Vocabulary : Idioms : Quizzes : Death : kick the bucket

kick the bucket Informal

Meaning: If someone kicks the bucket, they die.

For example:

When I kick the bucket, you can just bury me under a tree at the bottom of the garden.
Did you see the movie "Bucket List"? It's about these two old guys who make a list of all the things they want to do before they kick the bucket.

Origin: Possibly related to an old and outdated second meaning of the word "bucket", which was a wooden frame on which an animal was hung by the feet before being killed. While dying, the animal might struggle and "kick the bucket".

Quick Quiz:

Luke said that after he kicks the bucket, he wants to

go back to university
go to the pub for a drink
go to heaven

This entry is in the following categories:

Idioms/K
Idioms/Quizzes/Death
Idioms/Death