English Explanatory Dictionary

kick the bucket

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb

To die.
To break down such that it cannot be repaired.

Pronunciation

/ˈkɪk ðə ˈbʌkɪt/ en-us-kick the bucket.ogg en-au-kick the bucket.ogg

Word forms

kick the bucket kicks the bucket kicking the bucket kicked the bucket

Etymology

There are many theories as to where this idiom comes from, but the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) suggests the following: * A person standing on a pail or bucket with their head in a slip noose would kick the bucket so as to commit suicide. The OED, however, says that this is mainly speculative; * An archaic use of bucket was a beam from which a pig is hung by its feet prior to being slaughtered, and to kick the bucket originally signified the pig's death throes. The OED finds this a more plausible theory. Another theory is given by Roman Catholic Bishop Abbot Horne.

Synonyms

kick it bite the dust buy the farm assume room temperature auger in be called home be gathered to one's fathers be like the the One be no more be with Jesus be with the Lord bite the big one bite the biscuit buy it cark it cash in cash in one's chips check out close one's eyes for the last time code conk out croak cross over cross rainbow bridge cross the Great Divide cross the Styx darken decease decompose dematerialize depart disincarnate draw one's last breath drop off the hooks exit expire flatline forfare give one's all give up the ghost go for a burton go gentle into that good night go out go over to the majority go the way of all flesh go the way of the dinosaurs go the way of the dodo go the way of the dodo bird go to glory go to one's reward go west hand in one's checks hand in one's dinner pail hop the twig join the choir invisible keel over kick the bucket kick off knock off liquidate

Related words

bucket list

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