kick upstairs

Verb

• give a promotion to or assign to a higher position
  • John was kicked upstairs when a replacement was hired
    
  • Women tend not to advance in the major law firms
    
  • I got promoted after many years of hard work
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  promote , upgrade , advance , raise , elevate
• Antonyms: 
  demote , bump , relegate , break , kick downstairs