if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck

proverb

A subject can be identified by observing its habitual characteristics.

Similar
when I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck
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Meanings

proverb

alternative if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it's probably a duck

  1. A subject can be identified by observing its habitual characteristics.

    Synonyms: when I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck

Synonyms & antonyms

proverbA subject can be identified by observing its habitual characteristics.

Similar
when I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck
Also see
if the shoe fits, wear it

Translations

Finnish jos se näyttää ankalta, vaappuu kuin ankka ja vaakkuu kuin ankka, niin se todennäköisesti on ankka
  • jos se näyttää ankalta, vaappuu kuin ankka ja vaakkuu kuin ankka, niin se todennäköisesti on ankkaTranslations
French si ça ressemble à un canard, si ça nage comme un canard et si ça cancane comme un canard, c’est qu’il s’agit sans doute d’un canard
  • si ça ressemble à un canard, si ça nage comme un canard et si ça cancane comme un canard, c’est qu’il s’agit sans doute d’un canardTranslations
German wenn es aussieht wie eine Ente, schwimmt wie eine Ente und quakt wie eine Ente, dann ist es wahrscheinlich eine Ente
  • wenn es aussieht wie eine Ente, schwimmt wie eine Ente und quakt wie eine Ente, dann ist es wahrscheinlich eine EnteTranslations
Polish jeśli coś ma wszystkie cechy czegoś, to prawdopodobnie tym czymś jest
  • jeśli coś ma wszystkie cechy czegoś, to prawdopodobnie tym czymś jestTranslations
Portuguese se parece com um pato, nada como um pato e grasna como um pato, então provavelmente é um pato
  • se parece com um pato, nada como um pato e grasna como um pato, então provavelmente é um patoTranslations
Spanish si parece un pato, nada como un pato, y grazna como un pato, entonces probablemente sea un pato.
  • si parece un pato, nada como un pato, y grazna como un pato, entonces probablemente sea un pato.Translations
Swedish om en fågel ser ut som en anka, simmar som en anka och kvackar som en anka, så är det förmodligen en anka
  • om en fågel ser ut som en anka, simmar som en anka och kvackar som en anka, så är det förmodligen en ankaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20it%20looks%20like%20a%20duck%2C%20swims%20like%20a%20duck%2C%20and%20quacks%20like%20a%20duck%2C%20then%20it%20probably%20is%20a%20duck

MLA

“if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20it%20looks%20like%20a%20duck%2C%20swims%20like%20a%20duck%2C%20and%20quacks%20like%20a%20duck%2C%20then%20it%20probably%20is%20a%20duck. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20it%20looks%20like%20a%20duck%2C%20swims%20like%20a%20duck%2C%20and%20quacks%20like%20a%20duck%2C%20then%20it%20probably%20is%20a%20duck.

Source: if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.