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kick the bucket

To die.

Etymology:

  • There are many theories as to where this idiom comes from, but the OED discusses the following:
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“

The old horse finally kicked the bucket.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'kick the bucket':

kick the bucketOf a machine, to break down such that it cannot be repaired.
kick the bucketto die.
Kick the BucketTo perish, die or expire, no more alive
See them all »

Translation

Find a translation for the kick the bucket phrase in other languages:

spark til spanden

calciare il secchio

umrzeć

сыграть в ящик

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to kick the bucket

kick upkick up one's heelskick rockskick one's heelskick up one's heelskick the tyreskick offkick offkick up the arsekick outkick one's heelskick offkick up one's heelskick the tires

How to pronounce this phrase?

Discuss this kick the bucket phrase with the community:

1 Comment
  • IzzyCohen
    IzzyCohen
    This idiom is probably from a proto-Semitic metaphor: make love = עֲגוֹב [K]aGov + in Paradise = בעִדָן B'[K]aiDen " Hebrew [K]aGav B'3eDen kick (the) bucket. This is still a Middle East (virgins in heaven) euphemism to avoid saying "He died." 
    LikeReply1 year ago

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"kick the bucket." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/kick-the-bucket_4893>.

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