Learning English

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• cut corners
• short-change
• go through a rough patch

Introduction

Sometimes we put off doing something important. When we delay something to deal with it later, we kick the can down the road. Learn how to use this expression with Feifei and Phil.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases and expressions used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. I'm Feifei.

Phil
And I'm Phil.

Feifei
You're a bit late!

Phil
Yes, sorry I've been getting my car fixed – it’s very old and it wouldn't start.

Feifei
Oh, not again! Why don't you just get a new car?

Phil
I mean, I probably should, but it's very expensive so I'm going to kick the can down the road and just keep getting it fixed. I can probably make it last a few more years.

Feifei
And you'll end up spending as much as you would on a new car. Anyway, let's learn that expression you just used – 'kick the can down the road'.

Phil
Yes, when we talk about kicking the can down the road, it means we delay doing something. It might mean that we'll have to deal with it in the future, or we might be able to delay it long enough that it becomes someone else's problem.

Feifei
Yes, for example if you know you're leaving a job, you might want to delay some problems for someone else to deal with. So you might just kick the can down the road.

Phil
Let's hear some other people using the expression, 'kick the can down the road'.

Examples
I need some building work done on my house, but I keep kicking the can down the road because I think it'll be a bit stressful.

Ugh, I've got some paperwork to do for the bank, but the task is just so boring, I keep kicking the can down the road.

My aunt really wants to have a video call with me, but whenever I speak to her on the phone, we end up talking for hours so I've been avoiding it and I keep kicking the can down the road.

Feifei
We've been learning the expression 'kick the can down the road' to talk about delaying something you have to do.

Phil
Yes, a similar expression with the same meaning is to 'kick something into the long grass'. And it means the same – when you kick something into the long grass, you delay dealing with it.

Feifei
OK. That's it for this programme, but join us next time to learn more English phrases and expressions.

Phil
Don't kick learning the next expression into the long grass. Learn it with us next time!

Feifei
That's right! See you then.

Phil
Bye!

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