water off a duck's back

noun

Something potentially harmful or hurtful, such as criticism or insult, that nevertheless has no effect or impact on the target.

“She's always going on at him about something, but to him it's all water off a duck's back.”

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Meanings

nounwater off a duck's back (uncountable)
  1. uncountableSomething potentially harmful or hurtful, such as criticism or insult, that nevertheless has no effect or impact on the target.

    She's always going on at him about something, but to him it's all water off a duck's back.

Origin

From the idea that water rolls easily off a duck's back and does not penetrate the duck's feathers.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

water off a duck's back. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/water%20off%20a%20duck's%20back

MLA

“water off a duck's back.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/water%20off%20a%20duck's%20back. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “water off a duck's back,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/water%20off%20a%20duck's%20back.

Source: water off a duck's back on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.