the origin of "kick the bucket"

[nannyfisher]

Where does the saying when someone dies

He or She kicked the Bucket

[2nd row]

perhaps it comes from the times when people collected their water from wells....... lowering it down, winching it back up, then pouring it into your bucket,,,,, kick the bucket over, all spills out, all gone, back into the earth/ground, nothing left, start all over again ? or give in/up ? ....... and to do that, is similar to dying /death.

[Quizmonster]

Click http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-kic1.htm for the answer.

 

[topov]

When sentenced to be hung during olden times (cant give any definate dates) the noose was placed around the neck whilst you stood upon the bucket to take the weight from the hanging rope. When the bucket was kicked away, you died..hence to kick the bucket. Also it was used to commit suicide, you kicked the bucket from under yourslef.. hope that helps