🦆 Duck
"A dead duck"
Meaning
Something that is certain to fail.
About the duck
Ducks look calm on the surface while paddling hard underwater, and their feathers shed water, which is why their idioms describe composure and deflecting criticism.
Example sentence
His plan to bake without flour was a dead duck from the start.
Test yourself
Which idiom means...
Something that is certain to fail.
More duck idioms
DuckIdiom
"A sitting duck"
Someone or something easy to attack or take advantage of.
DuckIdiom
"Get your ducks in a row"
To organize everything before doing something.
DuckIdiom
"A lame duck"
A leader or official who has little power because they are leaving soon.
DuckIdiom
"Like water off a duck's back"
Criticism that does not upset someone.
DuckIdiom
"A sitting duck"
Someone or something easy to attack or take advantage of.
DuckIdiom
"Get your ducks in a row"
To organize everything before doing something.