Kick the can
Posted by Russ Cable on August 28, 2005
In Reply to: Kick the can posted by ESC on August 28, 2005
: : What is the meaning of: "kick the can down the road?"
: I don't know. "Kick the can" is a children's game. Instructions are at eHow: www.ehow.com/ how_309_play-kick-can.html
"kicking the can" is often played in the street thus the "down the road" part. In most versions of the game, someone kicks the can and then the person who is "it" has to retrieve the can before he can chase the other players. Kicking the can as far down the road as possible gives the other players the maximum possible time to hide or scatter or whatever is required by the game. Thus metaphorically, "kicking the can down the road" is similar to a delaying tactic, putting it off until later, etc.