duck

1
[ duhk ]
/ dʌk /

noun, plural ducks, (especially collectively for 1, 2) duck.

Idioms for duck

    water off a duck's back, something that has little or no effect: Our criticisms of his talk rolled off him like water off a duck's back.

Origin of duck

1
before 1000; Middle English duk, doke, Old English dūce diver, duck; akin to duck2

Words nearby duck

duchess potatoes, duchesse, duchesse bed, duchesse brisée, duchy, duck, duck and drake, duck hawk, duck on a rock, duck out, duck press

British Dictionary definitions for water off a duck's back (1 of 4)

duck 1
/ (dʌk) /

noun plural ducks or duck

Word Origin for duck

Old English dūce duck, diver; related to duck ²

British Dictionary definitions for water off a duck's back (2 of 4)

duck 2
/ (dʌk) /

verb

to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away, esp so as to escape observation or evade a blow
to submerge or plunge suddenly and often briefly under water
(when intr, often foll by out) informal to dodge or escape (a person, duty, etc)
(intr) bridge to play a low card when possessing a higher one rather than try to win a trick

noun

the act or an instance of ducking

Derived forms of duck

ducker, noun

Word Origin for duck

C14: related to Old High German tūhhan to dive, Middle Dutch dūken

British Dictionary definitions for water off a duck's back (3 of 4)

duck 3
/ (dʌk) /

noun

a heavy cotton fabric of plain weave, used for clothing, tents, etc See also ducks

Word Origin for duck

C17: from Middle Dutch doek; related to Old High German tuoh cloth

British Dictionary definitions for water off a duck's back (4 of 4)

duck 4
/ (dʌk) /

noun

an amphibious vehicle used in World War II

Word Origin for duck

C20: from code name DUKW

Cultural definitions for water off a duck's back

water off a duck's back

To fail to catch on or make a mark: “The reporter's snide comments rolled off the candidate like water off a duck's back.”

Idioms and Phrases with water off a duck's back

duck