kick downstairs

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Sure! Let’s break down the phrase "kick downstairs" in a way that’s easy to understand.

Definition:

"Kick downstairs" is a verb phrase that means to assign someone to a lower position or reduce their rank. This often happens in workplaces when someone is moved from a higher job to a lower job, usually because of poor performance or behavior.

Usage Instructions:

You can use "kick downstairs" when talking about someone who has lost their job position or is demoted in some way. It’s often used informally and can imply that the person doesn’t deserve the lower position.

Examples:

1. "After the project failed, the manager was kicked downstairs to a junior role."
2. "She was kicked downstairs because she frequently ignored the company's rules."

Advanced Usage:

In more formal contexts, you might say "demote" instead of "kick downstairs." However, "kick downstairs" has a more casual tone and can imply a sense of unfairness or punishment.

Word Variants:

• Demote (verb): To lower someone’s rank or position.
• Demotion (noun): The act of being demoted.

Different Meaning:

• In a literal sense, "kick" means to strike something with your foot. "Downstairs" refers to a lower floor of a building. However, in this phrase, we focus on the metaphorical meaning related to job positions.

Synonyms:

• Demote
• Lower
• Downgrade
• Reassign (though this is more neutral and doesn’t always imply a negative connotation)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Move down a peg: Similar to "kick downstairs," this idiom means to lower someone's status or confidence.
• Bump down: This is another informal way to say someone has been moved to a lower position.

Summary:

So, "kick downstairs" is a casual way to describe someone being lowered in rank or position, often due to their actions or performance.

Academic

Verb

1. assign to a lower position; reduce in rank
   • She was demoted because she always speaks up
   • He was broken down to Sergeant

Synonyms

• demote
• bump
• relegate
• break