kick upstairs
C1Informal, often used in business/political journalism and conversation.
Definition
Meaning
To promote someone to a higher-level position that appears more prestigious but often has less real power or influence; a form of removing someone from a position of effective authority.
It can also refer to any strategic removal of a person from a current role by elevating them to a supposedly better one, often used in organizational, corporate, or political contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrase carries a strong connotation of strategic removal or sidelining. The promotion is not genuine advancement but a polite dismissal from a position of operational control.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Meaning and usage are identical. The metaphor is equally understood in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical negative/cynical connotation in both.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American business/political reporting, but well-established in UK English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] kicked [Object] upstairs (to [New Position])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “golden handshake”
- “put out to pasture”
- “window dressing”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common: 'The board kicked the troublesome CFO upstairs to a non-executive role.'
Academic
Rare, except in organisational behaviour/political science discussions.
Everyday
Understood, but less frequent. Used when discussing office politics.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The shareholders decided to kick the chairman upstairs after the scandal.
- He was effectively kicked upstairs to a role in European liaison.
American English
- The company kicked her upstairs to a VP title with no team.
- They're planning to kick the old manager upstairs to the corporate office.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- They didn't fire him, they kicked him upstairs.
- The controversial minister was kicked upstairs to become the party's honorary president.
- To neutralise his opposition within the firm, the CEO orchestrated a move to kick him upstairs to a newly created 'Director of Strategic Futures' role with a grand title but no budget or staff.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine physically kicking someone up a flight of stairs to a fancy but empty attic office—they're higher up but away from the action.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANISATION IS A BUILDING (upstairs = higher status/lower utility). REMOVAL IS A PHYSICAL ACTION (kick).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation ('пинать наверх'). The closest conceptual equivalent is 'повысить, чтобы убрать с дороги' or 'отправить в почётную ссылку'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe a genuine, desired promotion. Incorrect: 'She worked hard and was kicked upstairs to VP.'
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary implication when someone is 'kicked upstairs'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost always negative or cynical, implying the promotion is a sham to remove someone.
No, it is informal. Formal alternatives are 'promoted to a ceremonial role' or 'reassigned to a senior advisory position'.
No, there is no standard noun form derived from this phrasal verb.
There's no direct idiom. The conceptual opposite is a meaningful promotion or being given real operational authority.