Where The Phrase Kick The Bucket Might Have Originated

One of the most widespread theories behind the phrase says that it describes the act of hanging oneself, according to Writing Explained. This theory posits that, in the past, when people hanged themselves or were hanged, they often stood on a pedestal or bucket to be tied up by the noose. When they were ready

One of the most widespread theories behind the phrase says that it describes the act of hanging oneself, according to Writing Explained. This theory posits that, in the past, when people hanged themselves or were hanged, they often stood on a pedestal or bucket to be tied up by the noose. When they were ready to die, they then kicked the bucket out from under themselves and were killed.

However, this theory hasn't necessarily been widely accepted, according to the Oxford University Press Blog. Alternate theories have been suggested, including a potential connection between the hanging of pigs for slaughter and the term "kicking the bucket," according to The Phrase Finder. This theory notes that the term "bucket" used to also refer to a beam that butchers used to string up pigs. These pigs were then slaughtered and butchered for meat. The phrase might refer to the way those pigs struggled while being killed, and, as they were struggling, kicked the beam, or "bucket."

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