criticisms of or warnings to a particular person that have no effect on that person: I've told him that he's heading for trouble, but he doesn't listen - it's just water off a duck's back. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Useless and futile adrift aimless aimlessly aimlessness airy-fairy fruitless fruitlessly fruitlessness futile Definition: Without any effect. People often use this to describe insults or other negative actions that others do against them that do not harm them. A common collocation is to roll off someone like water off a duck's back. Origin of Water Off a Duck's Back This expression originated in the 1800s.
Expression Like water off a duck's back English idioms, Learn english, English fun
Fleetingly, without having any significant, lasting, or apparent impact on someone or something. I was worried losing his job was going to trigger his depression, but it seemed to roll off him like water off a duck's back. I envy my sister because any criticism or judgment is like water off a duck's back to her. See also: back, like, off, water WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary English Dictionary Grammar Definition of 'water off a duck's back' water off a duck's back in American English something that has little or no effect Our criticisms of his talk were merely water off a duck's back See full dictionary entry for duck Definition of 'like water off a duck's back' 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 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 Idiom Meaning YouTube
be wasting your breath. be water off a duck's back. be water under the bridge. be way off beam. be wedded to (something) be weighed (in the balance) and found wanting. be welcome to (something) be well aware of (something) be well aware of something. QUIZ The Word Of The Day Weekly Quiz: Basically Bespoke! Tailor the words from December 25-31, 2023 to fit your needs! Question 1 of 7 What does SERENDIPITY mean? excess. accidental discovery. the study of flags. TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Words Nearby water off a duck's back water nymph water oak water oats water of constitution 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. Definition of be (like) water off a duck's back - Learner's Dictionary be (like) water off a duck's back If criticisms, insults, etc are like water off a duck's back to you, they do not affect you at all: She calls him lazy and useless, but it's like water off a duck's back. Preparing for your Cambridge English exam?
Learn English Idioms Water off a Duck's Back YouTube
Definition of 'water off a duck's back' water off a duck's back in American English something that has little or no effect Our criticisms of his talk were merely water off a duck's back See full dictionary entry for duck Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Water off a duck's back: Learn what the means through example!
Something potentially harmful or hurtful, such as criticism or insult, that nevertheless has no effect or impact on the target. She's always going on at him about something, but to him it's all water off a duck's back. Usage notes [ edit] Often in the expression like water off a duck's back . LIKE WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com like water off a duck's back Readily and without apparent effect. For example, The scathing reviews rolled off him like water off a duck's back. This expression alludes to the fact that duck feathers shed water. [Early 1800s] Recommended videos Powered by AnyClip
Like water off a duck's back Meaning YouTube
1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Prepositional phrase 1.2.1 Usage notes 1.2.2 Translations 1.2.3 See also 1.3 References English [ edit] Pronunciation [ edit] Audio (AU) Prepositional phrase [ edit] like water off a duck 's back ( simile, colloquial, idiomatic) Without immediate or lasting effects . Usage notes [ edit] 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.
