(LIKE) WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK definition: 1. criticisms of or warnings to a particular person that have no effect on that person: 2…. Learn more. Origin of Water Off a Duck's Back. This expression originated in the 1800s. It comes from the literal characteristic that duck feathers have for resisting water. If you have ever observed a duck, you may have noticed that no matter how often the duck dives under the water, it comes back up looking quite dry.
Water Off A Ducks Back 2 Photograph by HH Photography of Florida
Informal without effect.. Click for English pronunciations, examples sentences, video. The meaning of (LIKE) WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK is having no effect on someone. How to use (like) water off a duck's back in a sentence. like water off a duck's back. Easily, smoothly, without ill effect. This expression, dating from the early nineteenth century, alludes to the way a duck's feathers shed water. Charles Kingsley used it in The Water Babies (1863), "When men are men of the world, hard words run off them like water off a duck's back.". For example, 'No matter what they say, it's like "water off a duck's back" to her.' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the phrase even if used alone, like saying 'Just let it roll off like "water off a duck's back"!' to imply not letting something bother you.
Water off a duck's back Smithsonian Photo Contest Smithsonian Magazine
like water off a duck's back. phrase. You say that criticism is like water off a duck's back or water off a duck's back to emphasize that it is not having any effect on the person being criticized. [emphasis] All the criticism is water off a duck's back to me. See full dictionary entry for duck. be (like) water off a duck's back definition: If criticisms, insults, etc are like water off a duck's back to you, they do not affect you at all: . Learn more. English [edit] Etymology [edit]. From the idea that water rolls easily off a duck's back and does not penetrate the duck's feathers. Noun [edit]. water off a duck 's back (uncountable). Something potentially harmful or hurtful, such as criticism or insult, that nevertheless has no effect or impact on the target. be (like) water off a duck's back meaning: If criticisms, insults, etc are like water off a duck's back to you, they do not affect you at all: . Learn more.
Mallard (Water off a duck's back) photo Wayne Millar photos at
Laugh all you like, it's water off a duck's back to me. You can criticise and ridicule me all day, it's just like water off a duck's back to me. There are plenty more examples out there I'm sure but sufficed to say, you can use it whenever you wish to inform somebody that you are or were in no way bothered about what they said or did. Water off a duck's back definition: . See examples of WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK used in a sentence.
be (like) water off a duck's back. To be a fleeting presence; to not have a lasting impact on someone or something. I envy my sister because any criticism or judgment is like water off a duck's back to her. See also: back, off, water. WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK definition: something that has little or no effect | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples
Water off a duck's back Photograph by Karl Barth Fine Art America
Put or get someone's back up. Back the wrong horse. Fish out of water. Dead in the water. Keep your head above water. Water under the bridge. Water over the dam. Fall off the back of a lorry. Break your duck. (simile, colloquial, idiomatic) Without immediate or lasting effects. 1919, Lucy Maud Montgomery, chapter 18, in Rainbow Valley: "She combs me down with her tongue sometimes though, but that just slips off me like water off a duck's back." 2009 January 2, Jan Espeut, "The honeymoon is over", in Jamaica Gleaner, retrieved 20 Jan. 2009: Scandal after.
