Business English from All Ears English BE 495: Don't Kick the Can Down the Road! Address It in English Now
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Nov 25, 2025 Lindsay and Aubrey dive into the importance of addressing issues head-on rather than postponing them. They explore the idiom 'kick the can down the road,' discussing when it can be beneficial to delay action and when it leads to avoidance. They share alternative phrases for this concept and use cooking analogies to illustrate strategic delays. Through role-play, they confront a scenario of addressing underperformance at work. Ultimately, the discussion emphasizes the need to prioritize what truly matters in both personal and professional contexts.
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Meaning And Scope Of The Phrase
- "Kick the can down the road" means postponing action until later because something isn't urgent now.
- The phrase applies to business and personal decisions about prioritizing non-urgent problems.
Decide Before You Delay
- Decide whether delay is strategic or avoidance before postponing a problem.
- Address urgent interpersonal issues sooner rather than repeatedly kicking them down the road.
Fix It When It Happens
- Fix problems when they happen instead of waiting for recurrence.
- Make corrections promptly to prevent repeating mistakes in future presentations or projects.