Another kick at the can/cat
Posted by Kitty on March 26, 2003
In Reply to: Another kick at the can/cat posted by TheFallen on March 26, 2003
: : Two questions:
: : 1. What is the origin of the phrase "another kick at
the can" (or cat), meaning "another attempt", as in this example: "In spite of
our committee's previous failures to agree on this item, I'll take another kick
at the can in drafting a proposal."
: : 2. Which form -- using "can" or using
"cat" -- is the original one? I have found examples of each on the internet, but
other than forming the opinion that "can" is more commonly used than "cat", I
haven't found which was used first (and is probably therefore more legitimate).
: It's "another kick at the can", I'm pretty sure. I think it refers to an exclusively American children's game, called (staggeringly enough) kicking the can - but don't ask me how it's played. Steven Spielberg directed an "episode" in the 1983 movie "The Twilight Zone" called "Kicking The Can".
: "Kicking the cat" is also an idiom in its own right, usually used when one wants to express frustration - "That meeting was so boring and unproductive that when I finally got home, I had to kick the cat."
Just for interest's sake, here is a link to parentcenter.com for instructions on how to play "kick the can"...
- Another kick at the can/cat Gary
03/26/03
- Another kick at the can/cat Greg 03/26/03