Definition of Kicking the Can Down The Road

What is the definition of the term "kicking the can down the road"? What does the term "kicking the can down the road" mean?

The term "kicking the can down the road" is often used in the world of politics.

If you "kick the can down the road", this means that you are delaying an important decision until a later, usually unspecified date.

For instance - people will say that US politicians are "kicking the can down the road" when it comes to dealing with the nation's ballooning debt load. The only way for the nation to actually deal with the problem is to make some very tough changes (substantial changes to entitlement programs being at the top of the list), but many US politicians are unwilling to actually take up the cause, as trying to press for those changes would be very unpopular with many of their constituents.

So, in the end, politicians end up "kicking the can down the road". They are either hoping that:

a) the problem magically disappears
b) they leave office before the problem has to be dealt with

--

Davemanuel.com Articles That Mention Kicking the Can Down The Road:

None