Have you ever caught yourself daydreaming about the big, bright things you want to do someday—then wondered what to call that list? Or felt awkward when someone mentions dying and suddenly you’re asked, “What’s on your list?”
A “bucket list” is a list of experiences or achievements a person wants to accomplish during their lifetime.
Read on to learn the literal origins, useful memory aids, natural-sounding example sentences, related sayings, common mistakes learners make, and a short quiz to check your understanding.
By the end, you’ll be ready to create and talk about your own “bucket list” with confidence.
A Funny Mix-up
When you first hear the phrase “bucket list”, it can sound a bit morbid—after all, the expression comes from the phrase “kick the bucket”, which is a slang way to say someone has died. That connection often causes a double-take: people worry the list is about death. But in everyday use the focus is on living well, not on dying.
Here’s a common scenario: someone asks, “What’s on your “bucket list”?” and you panic, imagining they want to know your funeral wishes. In reality, the question is friendly and forward-looking—an invitation to share hopes, adventures, and long-term goals. Think of the phrase as a playful nudge: what would you love to do while you have the chance?
What does “bucket list” mean?
Core meaning: A “bucket list” is a personal list of experiences, adventures, skills, or achievements someone hopes to complete during their life. It’s most often used in a positive, inspirational way: to identify priorities and motivate action.
Why this phrase?
The phrase links back to the expression “kick the bucket” (to die). The “bucket” becomes a metaphorical container for the things you want to fill your life with before that inevitable end. Over the last two decades the term has grown so common it now appears frequently in conversation, articles, and even movie titles.
What kinds of items belong on a “bucket list”?
- Experiences: skydiving, watching the Northern Lights, walking the Camino de Santiago.
- Personal goals: writing a book, learning a language, running a marathon.
- Meaningful actions: reconnecting with an old friend, volunteering abroad, starting a family project.
Items on a “bucket list” can be big or small. The point isn’t how grand they sound—it’s that they matter to you.
Example sentences
Use these sentences as models when you talk about your own dreams. Notice the natural places the idiom fits in conversation.
- “Skydiving is on my “bucket list”.”
A straightforward way to state a dream. - “I’m trying to cross off everything on my “bucket list” before I turn 30.”
Using the phrase to set a timeline for goals. - “What’s on your “bucket list”?
A common conversation starter about life goals. - “Moving to another country has always been on my “bucket list”.”
Describing a long-held ambition. - “We made a couple’s “bucket list” of places to visit together.”
Shows the phrase can be used for shared goals, not just individual ones.
Memory Aid
Want a simple trick to remember the idiom? Picture a real bucket—a container—and imagine filling it with little treasures that represent your dreams: a plane for travel, a diploma for finishing school, a camera for a photo of a special place. The image is helpful because it connects a concrete object (the bucket) with the abstract idea (your life goals).
Two quick visualization tips
- Fill the bucket: Mentally drop items into your bucket—one for each goal. This reinforces that a “bucket list” is a collection, not a single wish.
- Use a deadline: Imagine you’re packing for a trip—what would you absolutely put in your bucket before you leave? This adds urgency and helps prioritize.
Related Sayings
The phrase “bucket list” sits near several similar expressions. Here are some useful alternatives and how they differ in nuance:
- “Life goals”: A broader, often more career- or values-focused phrase. Less playful than “bucket list”.
- “To-do list”: Usually short-term chores or tasks; not as aspirational as a “bucket list”.
- “Life list” or “list of things to do before I die”: Literal, clear, and sometimes used for emphasis.
- “Dream list”: Emphasizes aspiration and imagination rather than completion.
Also useful to know: “kick the bucket” (the origin-related phrase) is a slang idiom meaning “to die,” and is used mostly in informal contexts or dark humor.
Fun Facts
- Popularized by film: The 2007 movie The Bucket List (starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) brought the phrase into mainstream English and gave it a warm, reflective tone.
- Dictionary recognition: The term was added to major dictionaries in the mid-2000s—by then it was already part of everyday speech.
- Common item: Surveys and informal polls often list “travel” as the most popular item on people’s “bucket lists”.
- Flexible format: A “bucket list” can be written, digital, shared with friends, or kept private. There’s no wrong way to make one.
Common Mistakes
English learners sometimes make a few predictable errors when using the expression. Here’s how to avoid them:
- Using “bucket” without quotes or context: Saying “I made a bucket” without adding “list” or extra context can be confusing. Always use the full phrase “bucket list” when talking about life goals.
- Confusing with short-term lists: Don’t substitute a “bucket list” for an ordinary “to-do list” (which usually contains short-term tasks). A “bucket list” implies long-term, meaningful ambitions.
- Overly literal translations: Some learners translate the phrase word-for-word into their language, which can sound awkward. Instead, think of the concept—“things I want to do before I die”—and translate that meaning if necessary.
- Tone mismatch: Remember the subtlety: because the phrase references death indirectly, using it in very formal settings may feel out of place. In most casual and semi-formal contexts it’s perfectly fine—and often inspiring.
Quiz Time!
Summary
“Bucket list” is a personal collection of goals, experiences, or achievements you hope to complete in your lifetime. The phrase plays on the idiom “kick the bucket”, but its spirit is optimistic—it’s about filling your life with meaningful moments.
How to start your own “bucket list”:
- Brainstorm freely: Write everything that excites you—big or small.
- Prioritize: Choose a few that matter most right now.
- Plan steps: Break larger items into achievable actions (e.g., “save $2,000 for travel” or “take one language class”).
- Share or keep private: Decide whether telling friends will motivate you—or whether you prefer a private list.
- Start small: Crossing off even one item builds momentum.
Whether it’s seeing a new country, learning a skill, or making a meaningful memory with loved ones, a “bucket list” helps you turn vague dreams into real plans. So, what will you put in your bucket?