Ducks are more than just cute birds – they’ve also made their way into many popular phrases and expressions! Whether it’s their quirky behavior or their fun reputation, ducks have inspired a range of English phrases we use every day. Let’s take a look at some of the most common duck phrases and what they really mean!
A Sitting Duck
Meaning: Someone or something that is in a vulnerable, defenseless, or easily targeted position. It suggests that the person or thing is an easy target for attack or harm, often because they aren’t aware of the threat or are unprepared.
Examples: “Without a proper defense, the company was a sitting duck for hackers.”
Odd Duck
Meaning: Someone or something that is unusual, quirky, or different from the norm. The phrase is often used to describe a person with eccentric behavior or characteristics that set them apart from others.
Examples:
- Mark is definitely an odd duck; he collects antique telephones and refuses to use a cell phone.
- The new employee is a bit of an odd duck, always wearing mismatched socks and speaking in riddles during meetings.
Strange duck
Meaning: An unusual or eccentric person.
Examples:
- He’s a strange duck, always wearing mismatched clothes and talking about the weather.
- She’s a strange duck, spending her weekends reading about ancient civilizations.
Duck soup
Meaning: Something that is very easy to do.
Examples:
- The math test was duck soup for her since she had studied all week.
- Cooking this recipe is duck soup—just follow the steps and you’re done!
Dead duck
Meaning: Something that is no longer useful or has failed.
Examples:
- After the company lost its main client, the project was a dead duck.
- The old car was a dead duck, constantly breaking down and no longer worth fixing.
Golden duck
Meaning: In cricket, a golden duck refers to getting out on the first ball faced, and it can also describe an unfortunate or unsuccessful start.
Examples:
- He was out for a golden duck in his first match with the team.
- The project was a golden duck, failing before it even started.
Lame duck
Meaning: A person or thing that is ineffective or in a position of failure, often used to describe a politician who’s nearing the end of their term.
Examples:
- The lame duck president had little influence as the election was already underway.
- The project became a lame duck after funding was cut and no one cared to keep it going.
Lucky duck
Meaning: A person who is fortunate or has good luck.
Examples:
- You won the lottery? You’re a lucky duck!
- She got the last concert ticket! What a lucky duck.
Mud duck
Meaning: A term sometimes used to describe someone or something that’s not very glamorous or impressive, often in a rural or down-to-earth sense.
Examples:
- She’s no city girl—just a mud duck enjoying the simple life on the farm.
- The car wasn’t fancy, but it got the job done—a real mud duck in the world of luxury vehicles.
Queer duck
Meaning: A person or thing that is eccentric, unusual, or out of the ordinary. It can sometimes have a negative or playful tone.
Examples:
- He’s a bit of a queer duck, always saying odd things that no one really understands.
- The new neighbor seems like a queer duck—he never interacts with anyone and always wears strange hats.
Ducking and diving
Meaning: To avoid or evade something, often with skill or trickery.
Examples:
- He spent the meeting ducking and diving, skillfully avoiding any tough questions.
- The con artist was constantly ducking and diving, never letting anyone catch him.
Tight as a duck’s arse
Meaning: Very tight or secure, often referring to something that is very well sealed or fastened.
Examples:
- The lid on the jar was tight as a duck’s arse, and I couldn’t open it.
- The money was secured tight as a duck’s arse in the safe, no one could get to it.
Happy as a duck in Arizona
Meaning: Extremely happy or content, despite the situation being unusual (since ducks are typically associated with water).
Examples:
- When he got the job offer, he was happy as a duck in Arizona, smiling from ear to ear.
- She’s happy as a duck in Arizona now that she’s living by the beach.
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Ducks on the pond
Meaning: A situation where there are opportunities or prospects, often in sports or business.
Examples:
- We’ve got ducks on the pond with several potential deals lined up for next quarter.
- The team had ducks on the pond in the last inning, with a chance to win the game.
To duck and cover
Meaning: To quickly hide or protect oneself, often in an emergency or dangerous situation.
Examples:
- When the alarm went off, we all had to duck and cover under the desks.
- The kids were taught to duck and cover during fire drills at school.
To milk a duck
Meaning: To try to obtain something impossible or unlikely, often used to describe efforts that are futile.
Examples:
- Trying to get any useful information from him is like milking a duck—it’s just not going to happen.
- Don’t bother milking a duck; there’s no way to get more out of this deal.
Break your duck
Meaning: To achieve something for the first time, especially after initial failure or difficulty.
Examples:
- After three months of trying, she finally broke her duck and scored her first goal.
- He was nervous about his first interview but was thrilled to break his duck and land the job.
All duck or no dinner
Meaning: A phrase suggesting that if you’re going to do something, you should do it completely, or not at all.
Examples:
- We’re either going all-in on this project—all duck or no dinner—or we’re backing out completely.
- If you’re going to ask for a favor, don’t hold back—all duck or no dinner.
Duck test
Meaning: A humorous or informal expression implying that if something looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. It refers to using logical reasoning or evidence to identify something.
Examples:
- The duck test told us the new manager was unqualified—he acted clueless in every situation.
- If it walks like a scam and talks like a scam, it’s a scam—duck test in full effect.
Duck butt
Meaning: Refers to a person’s posture, where their lower back sticks out or they have a slightly exaggerated lower back curve.
Examples:
- He always stands with a duck butt, which makes him look a bit awkward when he’s walking.
- Stop walking like that, you’ve got a total duck butt—stand up straight!
Ay up me duck
Meaning: A friendly greeting used in certain regions, especially in parts of the UK like Derbyshire. It’s a way of saying “hello” to someone, often with warmth or affection.
Examples:
- Ay up me duck, how’ve you been?
- Ay up me duck, fancy a pint at the pub tonight?
Lovely weather for ducks
Meaning: A humorous way of saying that the weather is very rainy or wet, ideal conditions for ducks but not for people.
Examples:
- Don’t forget your umbrella, it’s lovely weather for ducks out there.
- I won’t be going outside today—it’s lovely weather for ducks with all this rain!
Get one’s ducks in a row
Meaning: To organize or prepare things properly before moving forward with a plan or task.
Examples:
- Before we start the project, we need to get our ducks in a row and make sure everyone is on the same page.
- She spent the morning getting her ducks in a row before the big meeting.
Like water off a duck’s back
Meaning: Describes something that does not have any lasting effect, like criticism or an insult that doesn’t bother someone.
Examples:
- He shrugged off the criticism, it was like water off a duck’s back to him.
- Don’t worry about their comments; it’s like water off a duck’s back to her.
Like a duck to water
Meaning: Refers to someone who takes to something easily or naturally, without struggle.
Examples:
- She joined the debate team like a duck to water, immediately excelling in every argument.
- He adapted to the new job like a duck to water, quickly learning all the ropes.
God love a duck
Meaning: An expression of endearment or sympathy, often used when someone does something silly or endearing.
Examples:
- God love a duck, she forgot her keys again and had to come back inside!
- When he tripped over his own feet, she just shook her head and said, God love a duck.
Could eat the crotch out of a low-flying duck
Meaning: A crude expression that refers to being extremely hungry or having a strong appetite.
Examples:
- After a long day of hiking, I’m so hungry I could eat the crotch out of a low-flying duck.
- He came home from the gym and said he could eat the crotch out of a low-flying duck.
Duck the question
Meaning: To avoid answering a question, often in a clever or evasive way.
Examples:
- The politician tried to duck the question by changing the topic.
- She attempted to duck the question about her plans for the weekend by saying she was too busy.
Knee high to a duck
Meaning: Refers to someone who is very small, often used to describe someone as a child or something in its early stages.
Examples:
- When I first met him, he was knee high to a duck, just a little kid.
- The business was knee high to a duck when I started working there, but now it’s thriving.
Play ducks and drakes with someone
Meaning: To behave recklessly or wastefully with someone’s time, money, or resources. It can also refer to treating someone unfairly.
Examples:
- Don’t play ducks and drakes with her money—she’s worked hard for it.
- He was accused of playing ducks and drakes with the company’s budget, wasting funds on unnecessary things.
Out for a duck
Meaning: In sports like cricket, it refers to getting out without scoring any points, especially on the first ball faced. In general, it can also mean a failed attempt at something.
Examples:
- He was out for a duck in his first game of the season, but he’ll get back up next time.
- After a week of trying, I was out for a duck on the job search and felt frustrated.
Singing like a duck
Meaning: Refers to someone singing in a poor or off-key manner, as ducks are not known for their singing ability.
Examples:
- She was singing like a duck at the karaoke night, but everyone cheered her on anyway.
- He tried to sing the national anthem, but it sounded more like singing like a duck than anything else.
Like a dying duck in a thunderstorm
Meaning: Describes someone who is in a very bad situation and is helpless or overwhelmed, often used in a humorous or exaggerated context.
Examples:
- He looked like a dying duck in a thunderstorm when he tried to explain his plan, all flustered and nervous.
- The team’s performance was like a dying duck in a thunderstorm, completely falling apart under pressure.
If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it is a duck
Meaning: If something has all the characteristics of something, then it is probably that thing, even if it’s not immediately obvious.
Examples:
- If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s probably the right choice for your project.
- The situation might seem complicated, but if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s most likely just a misunderstanding.