Meaning of Idiom ‘Like Water off a Duck’s Back’
Usually applied to criticism or insults, to say that something is like water off a duck’s back means that it does not affect someone at all and that they do not appear to notice or care.
Want to see more videos from Idioms.Online? Subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Examples Of Use
“After writing thirty books, most of them best-sellers, the critical reviews were like water off a duck’s back to him.”
“I don’t care what you say about me,” said Ronald. “It’s like water off a duck’s back.”
Origin
Used since the early 1800s, the expression alludes figuratively to the fact that the oils in the feathers of ducks cause water to run straight off their backs without the ducks getting wet.
More Idioms Starting with W
- Wash Your Hands of (Someone or Something)
- What’s the Damage?
- Work One’s Fingers To the Bone
- Out of Wedlock
- The Whole Kit and Caboodle
More Animal Idioms
- Beat a Dead Horse
- Monkey Around
- Go Whole Hog
- Fox Guarding the Henhouse
- I’m Going to See a Man About a Horse (Dog, Duck) Meaning
More Bird Idioms
More Back Idioms
- Know Something Like the Back Of One’s Hand
- Run Back
- Behind Someone’s Back (to do something)
- Back Street and Back Alley
- Back in the Day
More Duck Idioms
More Water Idioms
- Throw Out the Baby with the Bathwater, don’t
- Water Under The Bridge
- Lovely Weather for Ducks
- In Hot Water (to be)
- Hold Water
Discover more from Idioms Online
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.