In the following question, choose the alternative that best expresses the meaning of the English idiom/phrase "kick the bucket".

Introduction / Context:
The idiom "kick the bucket" is a very common informal expression in English. Competitive examinations often test such idioms because they do not mean what the individual words suggest. A literal reading about someone kicking a bucket would be completely wrong here. The real task is to recognise that this phrase is a humorous or euphemistic way of talking about death.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The given idiom is "kick the bucket".
• The question asks for the option that best expresses its meaning.
• All options are short phrases that could, in theory, describe a sudden event in someone's life.
• We assume standard modern English usage, especially in informal conversation and storytelling.

Concept / Approach:
Idioms are expressions whose meanings cannot be guessed by translating each word literally. For "kick the bucket", dictionaries and real-life usage agree that it is an informal or humorous way of saying "to die". It is often used when people want to speak lightly or jokingly about death, or when a writer wants to avoid the direct word "die". Therefore, the correct option must capture the idea of death, not anger, delay, accident or money loss.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall or look up the idiom "kick the bucket". It is very widely known as slang meaning "to die".Step 2: Compare each option with this meaning. "Lose temper" refers to getting angry, which is unrelated to death.Step 3: "To delay a little longer" describes postponement, not dying. Again, this does not match the idiom.Step 4: "To die" directly expresses the correct meaning in simple, neutral language.Step 5: "To meet with an accident" can sometimes lead to death, but in English it means "to be involved in an accident", which may or may not be fatal. It is therefore not an exact synonym.Step 6: Conclude that "To die" is the only option that exactly matches the established meaning of the idiom.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify from typical sentences: "He finally kicked the bucket last winter" clearly means "He finally died last winter". Replacing it with "lost his temper" or "met with an accident" completely changes the meaning. Even if an accident sometimes causes death, the idiom itself does not mention accidents at all. The phrase is also used even when the cause of death is natural and peaceful, so the core meaning is simply "to die".

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Lose temper" expresses anger, not death. "To delay a little longer" suggests postponement and has no connection with the idea of dying. "To meet with an accident" focuses only on an event, which might be minor or serious; it is not the standard idiomatic meaning of "kick the bucket". "To lose all one's money" describes financial loss and is unrelated to the idiom's established sense.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners try to guess the meaning from the words "kick" and "bucket", imagining physical actions or accidents. This is a trap with idioms: literal translation usually fails. Another mistake is to choose an option that sounds dramatic, such as "to meet with an accident", even though it is not the exact meaning. The safest strategy is to actively learn common idioms with clear examples and to remember that "kick the bucket" is a light, colloquial way to say "to die".

Final Answer:
The idiom "kick the bucket" means to die.