bucket list
3 synonyms for bucket list, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A list of experiences and achievements a person wants to have before they die.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
wish list
life list
to-do list
How to use bucket list
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
bucket-list trip
tick off the bucket list
add to my bucket list
Informal but universally understood, and heavy in travel marketing.
Etymology
From the idiom kick the bucket, meaning to die; a bucket list is a list of things to do before then.
Full origin of bucket list →Frequently asked questions
Where does the term bucket list come from?
It comes from the old idiom kick the bucket, meaning to die, so a bucket list is what you hope to do before kicking the bucket. The phrase spread rapidly into general English after the 2007 film The Bucket List.
What is the difference between a bucket list and a to-do list?
A to-do list holds ordinary tasks that need finishing soon, such as errands and chores. A bucket list holds large, meaningful ambitions with no deadline beyond a lifetime, such as travel, milestones and once-only experiences.
