English idiom

water off a duck's back

Register · Informal CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

criticism that has no effect on someone

Why this phrase?

A duck's feathers shed water instantly; insults are pictured sliding off a person just as quickly.

Example

“The negative reviews were water off a duck's back to her.”

Dictionary details

Component words

duck

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

get your ducks in a row

to organize things carefully before acting

rubber duck debugging

to debug or solve a problem by explaining it line by line, out loud, to an inanimate object such as a rubber duck

keep your chin up

To stay cheerful and brave during a difficult time.

a bad press

unfavorable reporting or reputation in the media or among people

land on your feet

to recover safely from a difficult situation

out of line

behaving or speaking beyond acceptable limits

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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