- Meaning
- This idiom describes criticism, insults, or negative experiences that have no effect on someone, rolling off them without causing distress or impact, much like water slides off a duck’s waterproof feathers. It conveys resilience, indifference, or emotional detachment in the face of adversity, used in social, professional, or personal contexts to highlight an ability to shrug off negativity. The phrase carries a tone of admiration, neutrality, or slight critique, reflecting cultural values of emotional toughness and the human capacity to remain unaffected by external pressures. It resonates in environments where criticism is common, such as competitive workplaces or public life, capturing the strength of maintaining composure under fire. The idiom’s natural imagery adds a layer of simplicity and universality, making it a compelling metaphor for emotional or psychological invulnerability.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in 19th-century Britain, rooted in the observation of ducks’ waterproof feathers, which repel water due to natural oils, a phenomenon familiar in rural and hunting communities. An early use appears in an 1839 *Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine* article, describing a politician’s indifference to scandal as ‘like water off a duck’s back.’ The idiom gained traction in Victorian England, reflecting a culture that valued stoicism, as seen in Charles Dickens’ *David Copperfield* (1850), where characters endure criticism with resilience. Its use grew in 19th-century American English, particularly in frontier and agricultural settings, and was popularized through 20th-century literature, such as John Steinbeck’s *The Grapes of Wrath* (1939), which depicts enduring hardship. The phrase’s adoption was amplified by its use in journalism and public speaking, notably in Winston Churchill’s wartime speeches, where resilience was paramount. Its spread to Commonwealth English and global contexts came through British and American media, and its vivid imagery, evoking a duck’s effortless deflection of water, and its applicability to emotional strength ensured its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from schoolyards to political arenas.
- Variants
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- Like water off a duck’s back
- Water off a duck’s back
- Like water off a duck
- Rolls off like water off a duck’s back
- Examples
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- His boss’s criticism was like water off a duck’s back—he just kept working.
- Water off a duck’s back, she ignored the gossip and stayed focused.
- Like water off a duck, their insults didn’t faze her confidence.
- Rolls off like water off a duck’s back, his calm demeanor deflects all negativity.
- The media’s attacks were like water off a duck’s back to the seasoned politician.
- Like water off a duck’s back, she brushed off the rejection and applied again.
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