KICK UPSTAIRS Definition & Meaning

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kick upstairs

verb

informal.
tr, adverb to promote to a nominally higher but effectively powerless position

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Idioms and Phrases

Promote someone to a higher but less desirable position, especially one with less authority. For example, Paul never forgave the company for kicking him upstairs at age 55 . This expression alludes to its antonym, kick downstairs , simply meaning “eject.” [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

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The experts said front-line engineers for Sound Transit can only approve changes under $50,000, so anything higher must be kicked upstairs for decisions.

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It’s the industry equivalent of getting kicked upstairs.

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“Usually in a tech company when someone becomes chair they are kicked upstairs and that is an exit,” Mr. Doerr said.

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It was terrific fun but after four years I was kicked upstairs and made responsible for both networks, which meant dealing with trade unions, politicians, finances, engineering, staffing problems, which is not much fun.

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If that fails, as it will, the dispute gets kicked upstairs, first to a “Joint Commission,” then to a Ministerial review, then to an “Advisory Board,” then to the U.N.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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kick upstairs

verb

Idioms and Phrases

Example Sentences