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kick upstairs

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kick somebody upstairs

to give someone a new job which seems more powerful but is really less powerful, usually in order to stop them causing trouble for you Brown is being kicked upstairs to become chairman of the new company.

See also: kick, upstairs

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

kick upstairs

Slang

To promote to a higher yet less desirable position.

See also: kick, upstairs