Kick Rocks – Meaning, Origin and Usage

If someone seems annoyed with you and they tell you to go and ‘kick rocks’ you might be wondering what on earth they might mean. If so, then you’ve come to just the right place.

Here, I’m going to explain what the phrase means, do a deep dive into the origin of the phrase, and describe how and when to use the phrase. I’ll also throw in a few alternative phrases that you can use in its place that may feel less dismissive and rude, before closing off with a conclusion.

And without further ado, let’s get straight to it!

What is the meaning of the phrase ‘kick rocks’?

If someone says ‘Go kick rocks’ to you, that means that you have annoyed them and they want you to go away. It’s basically a way of saying to someone that they should leave you and waste time doing something other than annoy or irritate people.

This might be because they feel that you’re trying to draw your attention that they’re not at all interested in, or that you;re bothering them with something that’s none of their concern or responsibility. It’s also a way of saying that you should go and waste your own time rather than theirs because they don’t want to be bothered.

As you may have gathered form this description, it’s a phrase that tends to be used with contempt, so it may come across as sarcastic or even outright rude.

What is the origin of the phrase ‘kick rocks’?

The experts are uncertain about when the phrase ‘kick rocks’ came into use because the phrase origins are still a matter of dispute.

There has been speculation that the phrase is derived around the time of the Great Depression in the 1920s and 1930s but this is not confirmed. At that time, children would often kick rocks around to pass the time, since there was no money to do anything else. Also around this time there was a popular kid’s game that involved kicking cans on the road.

It has also been suggested that the term is derived from the US penitentiary system, again through people having little else to do besides kicking rocks.

But while the date of origin of the phrase remains unclear, we do know that it was in use well before the 2000s. 

How and when can you use the phrase ‘kick rocks’?

The time to use the phrase ‘kick rocks’ should be reserved for a time when you are really busy, or simply really need to focus on something, especially if you have a deadline approaching that you’re struggling to meet.

It’s the sort of phrase that a parent or babysitter might use when bothered for the millionth time about something that’s wither completely unimportant or irrelevant, or very easily decided or resolved.

It’s a phrase that’s often reserved for times of impatience, and you should endeavour to avoid using it if you want to be diplomatic.

Here follows a few examples of the phrase in use:

• Can’t you see I’m busy! Go kick rocks!
• I’m really busy right now mate, go kick rocks somewhere.
• Can you just kick rocks somewhere? I’m really busy here.
• I haven’t got time for this sh*t right now. Please just go kick rocks somewhere and stay out of my way.

What are some other ways of saying ‘kick rocks’?

Here follows an array of alternative phrases that you can use in place of ‘kick rocks’:

• Mummy’s really busy tonight sweetheart, can you come back later?
• Daddy has a lot of work to do right now, why don’t you go see if your sister can help you with your homework?
• I really don’t have time for this right now. Can you please go ask whatshisface?
• I’m in the middle of something urgent right now, can it wait until tomorrow.
• I understand you want to get the matter resolved but I simply don’t have the time to help you with this.
• I’d love to help but now is not the right time.
• I just can’t help you with that honey, you’ll have to ask someone else.
• I’m busy, I’ve got my hands full, go ask your brother.

Final thoughts

So, to sum up, the phrase ‘kick rocks’ is something you say when you want someone to stop bothering here when you feel like they should waste their time somewhere else and just stop bothering you.

This phrase carries with it a tone of contempt, and should be reserved only for times when you have lost your patience, and all the alternative phrases that you could use in place have not worked, There are lots of alternative phrases that you can use that aren’t as rude and are much more polite and diplomatic.