dead duck

dead duck
noun
something doomed to failure
-

he finally admitted that the legislation was a dead duck

-

the idea of another TV channel is now a dead duck

-

as theories go, that's a dead duck

• Hypernyms: ↑failure

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noun
1. : a person or thing that has so deteriorated or depreciated as to be practically worthless
2. : one that is as good as done for

without big advertisers that magazine is a dead duck

* * *

a person or thing that is beyond help, redemption, or hope: One more missed opportunity and this whole enterprise is a dead duck.
[1820-30, Amer.; orig., in political slang, a person who has lost influence or power and is therefore useless; perh. from the proverb "never waste powder on a dead duck"]

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dead duck noun (informal)
A plan, idea or person, etc that has no chance of success or survival
• • •
Main Entry: ↑dead

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dead duck UK US noun [countable] [singular dead duck plural dead ducks] informal
something that will certainly fail
Thesaurus: unsuccessful person or thingsynonym

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dead duck,
Slang. a person or thing that has become utterly played out or worthless. »

Most Chicagoans regarded the reform movement as a dead duck (Newsweek).

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n. informal
1) an unsuccessful or useless person or thing

totalitarianism is a dead duck, he says

2) a person who is beyond help; one who is doomed

if they put their finger on Billy, he's a dead duck

•
Origin:
from the old saying "never waste powder on a dead duck."

* * *

noun, pl ⋯ ducks [count]
informal + humorous : a person or thing that is certain to fail, suffer, or be punished

If they find out what I did, I'm a dead duck!


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • dead duck — n a dead duck informal a plan, idea etc that is not worth considering because it is very likely to fail ▪ He admitted that the whole project was a dead duck …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • dead duck — dead ducks N COUNT (emphasis) If you describe someone or something as a dead duck, you are emphasizing that you think they have absolutely no chance of succeeding. [INFORMAL] The government is a dead duck. Syn: no hoper …   English dictionary

  • dead duck — noun count INFORMAL 1. ) HUMOROUS someone who will be punished severely: If she ever finds out about this, I m a dead duck! 2. ) something that will certainly fail …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • dead duck — Someone or something is bound to fail or die is a dead duck …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • dead duck — ► NOUN informal ▪ an unsuccessful or useless person or thing. ORIGIN from the old saying ‘never waste powder on a dead duck’ …   English terms dictionary

  • dead duck — ☆ dead duck or dead pigeon n. Slang a person or thing that is ruined or certain to suffer ruin, failure, or death; goner …   English World dictionary

  • dead duck — dead′ duck′ n. cvb a person or thing that is doomed • Etymology: 1820–30, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • dead duck — {n.}, {slang} A person or thing in a hopeless situation or condition; one to whom something bad is sure to happen. * /When the pianist broke her arm, she was a dead duck./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • dead duck — {n.}, {slang} A person or thing in a hopeless situation or condition; one to whom something bad is sure to happen. * /When the pianist broke her arm, she was a dead duck./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • dead duck — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms dead duck : singular dead duck plural dead ducks informal something that will certainly fail …   English dictionary

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