Kick the bucket
English Idiom
Meaning: This phrase is a casual or humorous way to say someone has died. It often lightens the mood around the topic of death, making it less somber.
Origin: The idiom 'kick the bucket' dates back to the 16th century. One theory suggests it originated from the method of execution by hanging, where a person would stand on a bucket and kick it away to hang. Another theory points to a slaughterhouse term, where animals were hung from a wooden beam called a 'bucket,' and they would kick as they were being slaughtered.
Examples
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After living a full and adventurous life, Grandpa finally kicked the bucket at the age of 99.
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The novel ends with a twist as the main character unexpectedly kicks the bucket.
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She joked that if she ever kicked the bucket, she wanted a huge party instead of a somber funeral.
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In the movie, the villain kicks the bucket in a surprisingly heroic act.
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When the old oak tree in the backyard kicked the bucket, it left a huge gap in the landscape.
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The comedian's routine was so dark that he often made jokes about people kicking the bucket.
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If my car kicks the bucket one more time, I'm definitely getting a new one.
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He left a substantial inheritance to his children after he kicked the bucket.
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The company had to shut down after its founder unexpectedly kicked the bucket.
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She was so tired after the marathon that she felt like she might kick the bucket.