kick something into the long grass

kick (something) into the long grass

To halt or stall something, especially a plan or project, so as to postpone having to make a decision or action regarding it. Primarily heard in UK. I say we kick the app release date into the long grass until we can all agree on a marketing plan for it.

See also: grass, kick, long

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

kick something into the long grass

BRITISH, JOURNALISM

If someone kicks an idea or plan into the long grass, they refuse to deal with it immediately, often because it will create problems for them. There were suggestions this week that the Government intends to kick the proposals into the long grass. Compare with kick something into touch.

See also: grass, kick, long, something

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

kick something into the long ˈgrass

,

kick something into ˈtouch

(both British English) reject, remove or stop dealing with a problem: He tends to deal with disputes by kicking them into the long grass.

In rugby and football, if a ball is kicked into touch (= the area outside the lines that mark the sides of the playing field), play stops.

See also: grass, kick, long, something

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017