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kick the can down the road

to delay dealing with a problem

In Headline Expressions

In more detail

(idiom) to delay dealing with a problem or difficult decision instead of solving it now

Examples

• The government keeps kicking the can down the road instead of fixing the healthcare system.

How to use kick the can down the road

This idiom is used to criticize or describe the act of delaying difficult decisions, often with the implication that the problem will eventually need to be confronted anyway. It typically appears in formal or journalistic contexts when discussing politics, finance, or management decisions. The phrase carries a mildly negative connotation, suggesting irresponsibility or lack of leadership.

Common phrases

• kick the can down the road
• keep kicking the can down the road
• refuse to kick the can down the road
• tempted to kick the can down the road

Synonyms

postpone the problem · put off the issue · procrastinate on · shelve the decision · defer action

Opposites

face the music · bite the bullet · address the problem

A common mistake

Learners sometimes overuse this phrase in casual conversation when simpler alternatives like 'postpone' or 'delay' would be more natural; it is best reserved for discussing significant policy or organizational decisions.

Nearby in Headline Expressions

move the goalposts, a hard sell, back to the drawing board

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained