English has quite a few idioms using animals. Today we look at some using ducks.
When you are lame it means that you have a problem with a leg or both legs, which means that you can’t walk properly. If you describe someone as a lame duck it means that they are weak or powerless. We often use it to describe people or things that are past their time.
My professor told us that the government should stop giving money to lame duck British car makers. They would never recover their market share.
The present government is a bit of a lame duck. It looks like they will lose the next election, so nobody pays much attention to their new policy ideas.
If you are a sitting duck it means that you are a clear or easy target to attack or criticize.
The soldiers had to get away from the open fields and into the woods. Out there they were sitting ducks for enemy marksmen.
The weak security of the software meant that users were sitting ducks for hackers.
If you take to something like a duck to water it means that you are naturally good at it.
“Karen, I’ve never seen someone have such a good first day in telesales. Most people find it hard at first, but you’ve taken to it like a duck to water.”
Listen to English Idioms Ducks
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