kick at the can
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation edit
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Noun edit
kick at the can (plural kicks at the can)
- (chiefly US and Canada, idiomatic) An attempt or an opportunity.
- 2005 June 17, Carol Vogel, “The Modern Buys 'Rebus'”, in New York Times, retrieved 13 February 2014:
- "We're now in a situation where you get just one kick at the can," Mr. Elderfield said.
- 2012 January 20, Eric Jackson, “In Defense of Jerry Yang”, in Forbes, retrieved 13 February 2014:
- How many companies get the chance to flail around for 6 years and then get a second kick at the can?
Verb edit
kick at the can (third-person singular simple present kicks at the can, present participle kicking at the can, simple past and past participle kicked at the can)