Estirar la pata

to kick the bucket; **to kick the bucket**; **to pop one's clogs** (British); **to croak** (very informal); **to pass away** (if a softer tone is needed)

Estirar la pata means to die, to kick the bucket, to pop one's clogs, or to pass away (in a humorous or colloquial sense).

It is one of the most common informal expressions for death.

• joking about death
• referring informally to someone's death
• talking about fictional characters
• speaking about animals that have died
• describing a machine or object that has stopped working forever (less commonly)

The expression is believed to come from the physical appearance of animals after death, when their legs become stiff and extended.

This visual image eventually developed into a humorous metaphor for dying.

The idiom has been documented in Spanish for several centuries.

Although very common, estirar la pata should be avoided in situations requiring sensitivity or respect, such as funerals or condolences.

It is normally reserved for humorous conversations, fiction or informal discussions among friends.

It is especially common when referring to pets, fictional characters or one's own death in a joking way.

Spanish has a rich collection of euphemisms for death:

• Estirar la pata → to kick the bucket.
• Irse al otro barrio → to go to the other side.
• Criar malvas → to be pushing up daisies.
• Pasar a mejor vida → to pass away.

Among them, estirar la pata is probably the closest equivalent to the English kick the bucket, as both are humorous, informal expressions that soften the directness of talking about death through colourful metaphor.

Do not translate the expression literally.

English speakers would never say:

He stretched his leg.

Instead, use expressions such as:

• He kicked the bucket.
• He passed away. (neutral)
• He popped his clogs. (British informal)

Choose the translation according to the seriousness of the situation.