Kick the bucket

Kick the bucket

To kick the bucket is a euphemism for dying or passing away.

The phrase 'kick the bucket' is an informal, somewhat humorous or light-hearted way to express the concept of dying or death. It is a euphemism, which means it's a softer, less direct way of discussing something that may be considered harsh, negative, or uncomfortable. While the phrase might sound strange, it's a well-established idiom in the English language. However, it's important to understand the cultural context and to use it appropriately since talking about death can be a sensitive topic. This idiom is commonly used in a conversation between people who are talking about death in a more casual or indirect way.

Background blur of Kick the bucket

Use cases

Word Click

When discussing the old family dog, my dad said, 'I think Fido may kick the bucket soon, he's been looking really unwell recently.' In this context, 'kick the bucket' is used to refer to the possible impending death of a beloved pet.

In the movie I watched last night, one of the characters joked, 'If I have to sit through another one of these boring meetings, I'm going to kick the bucket.' Here, the phrase is being used in an exaggerated, humorous way to express the character's extreme boredom.

During a conversation about aging, my friend said, 'We're all going to kick the bucket someday.' In this case, 'kick the bucket' is used as a casual way to refer to the inevitable reality of death.

In the book I'm reading, the author described a character who 'kicked the bucket' after a long illness. Here, the idiom is used to convey the character's death in a slightly less direct, more delicate way.

My cousin, trying to make light of a serious situation, said, 'If Aunt Mildred doesn't cut back on her smoking, she's going to kick the bucket sooner rather than later.' Here, the phrase 'kick the bucket' is used to express concern about a family member's health in a less serious way.

In the TV show, the comedian declared, 'If I have to be stuck in traffic for one more minute, I'm going to kick the bucket!' The phrase here is used exaggeratively to express the comedian’s frustration.

While talking about his old car, my neighbor said, 'This car is about to kick the bucket. It's not running as smoothly as it used to.' This is an example where the phrase 'kick the bucket' is used metaphorically to refer to the end of something non-living.

In a news article about endangered animals, it read, 'If we don't take immediate action, many species could kick the bucket.' Here, the phrase is used to refer to the potential extinction of animal species.

During a conversation about a sick tree in our backyard, my brother said, 'If we don't treat this tree, it's going to kick the bucket soon.' Here, the idiom is used to refer to the potential death of a tree.

In a conversation about life and death, my grandmother said, 'We are all going to kick the bucket one day, so it's important to enjoy life while we can.' In this context, 'kick the bucket' is used to refer to the inevitability of death.

Logo of useidioms.com