Water Off a Duck’s Back, like

Meaning of Idiom ‘Like Water off a Duck’s Back’

Usually applied to criticism or insults, to say that something is like water off a duck’s back means that it does not affect someone at all and that they do not appear to notice or care.

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Examples Of Use

“After writing thirty books, most of them best-sellers, the critical reviews were like water off a duck’s back to him.”

“I don’t care what you say about me,” said Ronald. “It’s like water off a duck’s back.”

Origin

Used since the early 1800’s, the expression alludes figuratively to the fact that the oils in the feathers of ducks cause water to run straight off their backs without the ducks getting wet.

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