General
about to kick the bucket
What does about to kick the bucket mean?
Blunt nursing shorthand that a patient is critically unwell and may soon deteriorate into cardiac arrest.
"Obs are crashing — she looks about to kick the bucket."
Origin
General idiom for dying, used at the bedside.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'about to kick the bucket' mean at the bedside?
It is blunt nursing shorthand that a patient is critically unwell and may soon deteriorate into cardiac arrest or death.
Where does 'kick the bucket' come from?
It is a long-standing general English idiom for dying, borrowed for casual use in clinical settings.
Is it appropriate to say around patients?
No. It is dark, informal staff talk, not something said in front of patients or families.
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