bucket list

Meaning

A 'bucket list' is a collection of experiences, achievements, or destinations that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. The term comes from the slang phrase 'to kick the bucket' (meaning to die). It is commonly used in casual conversations about travel dreams, adventure planning, and personal goals.

Examples

• Seeing the Northern Lights has been at the top of my bucket list for years.

  Seeing the Northern Lights has been at the top of my bucket list for years.

• We finally crossed skydiving off our bucket list last weekend.

  We finally crossed skydiving off our bucket list last weekend.

• My travel bucket list keeps getting longer every time I browse social media.

  My travel bucket list keeps getting longer every time I browse social media.

• Visiting Antarctica is a real bucket-list experience for serious adventurers.

  Visiting Antarctica is a real bucket-list experience for serious adventurers.

• I don't have a formal bucket list, but I definitely want to see the Pyramids one day.

  I don't have a formal bucket list, but I definitely want to see the Pyramids one day.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to do this on my bucket list.

  ✓ I want to cross this off my bucket list.

  We typically 'cross things off' or 'have things on' a bucket list, rather than 'doing things on' it.

• ✗ This trip is my bucket list.

  ✓ This trip is on my bucket list.

  A bucket list refers to the entire list of goals, not a single item. If referring to a single experience, use 'on my bucket list' or 'a bucket-list experience'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Going on a safari is definitely on my ___.

  💡 A list of things you want to do before you die.

  Show answer

  bucket list

• I can finally ___ visiting Tokyo off my bucket list!

  💡 The verb used when you complete an item on a list.

  Show answer

  cross