Etymology Journal · G
Go kick rocks
Meaning
- A sharp, modern-ish way to tell someone to leave you alone or that you do not care about what they have to say. It is the verbal equivalent of a firm brush-off.
Cold, sassy
Used in a sentence
- He wanted to borrow more money, so I told him to go kick rocks.
- If you do not like the rules of the game, go kick rocks.
- She said I was out of line, but I just told her to go kick rocks.
The backstory
This expression seems to have gained significant traction in the latter half of the 20th century. The imagery suggests sending someone off to perform a tedious, useless task like kicking stones along a path.
Heard in
Nationwide
Vibe check