have one's ducks in a row
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Perhaps from the image of ducklings following their mother in an orderly line. See also line up one's ducks.
Pronunciation edit
Audio (AU) (file)
Verb edit
have one's ducks in a row (third-person singular simple present has one's ducks in a row, present participle having one's ducks in a row, simple past and past participle had one's ducks in a row)
- (idiomatic) To be organized; to have one's affairs in order; specifically, to have a multi-person effort coordinated towards the exact same goal.
- Wouldn't it be nice to have our ducks in a row and not have to search for the papers every time we needed them?
- 1911, Kate Langley Bosher, Miss Gibbie Gault[1]:
- "You didn't need us." The man standing next to the steps laughed. "The work was done before to-night. You had your ducks in a row all right."
See also edit
Further reading edit
- Michael Quinion (created July 11, 2009, last updated June 23, 2012) “Ducks in a row”, in World Wide Words.
- Jonathon Green (2024) “have all one’s ducks in a row v.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang