Question

Water off a duck’s back If you say that something (usually a criticism, a telling-off or an insult) is water off a duck’s back or like water off a duck’s back to someone, you mean that it has no effect on them. Ducks have specially oily feathers to stop them absorbing water when they are swimming. Water doesn’t make them wet – it flows straight off them. “I must have told her a hundred times that she mustn’t do that, but it’s water off a duck’s back! She just goes on doing it.”

Accepted Answer

What do you mean? Why does it mean this? Example

Metaphor	Water off a duck’s back
Question Meaning	What do you mean?
Meaning	If you say that something (usually a criticism, a telling-off or an insult) is water off a duck’s back or like water off a duck’s back to someone, you mean that it has no effect on them.
Question Explanation	Why does it mean this?
Explanation	Ducks have specially oily feathers to stop them absorbing water when they are swimming. Water doesn’t make them wet – it flows straight off them.
Question Example	Example
Example	“I must have told her a hundred times that she mustn’t do that, but it’s water off a duck’s back! She just goes on doing it.”

Water Duck’s Back Criticism Telling Off Insult Effect Ducks