kick upstairs, to
kick upstairs
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]
See also: kick, upstairs
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
kick upstairs
Slang To promote to a higher yet less desirable position.
See also: kick, upstairs
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
kick upstairs, to
To promote someone to a higher rank with less responsibility in order to get him or her out of the way. Although one may tend to associate this expression with modern business practices, it was already being used in the early nineteenth century. J. W. Croker recorded it in an 1821 diary entry: “Lord Melville informs me that he is about to be kicked upstairs (his expression) to be Secretary of State.”
See also: kick
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- under (someone's or something's) shadow
- even/much/still less
- much less
- under the shadow of (someone or something)
- in the shadow of (someone or something)
- in/under the shadow of
- little frog in a big pond
- a little frog in a big pond
- a small frog in a big pond
- less than