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Pedro Rogick
Community TutorEnglish native speakers, how common are these idioms with "water"?
1) take to sth like a duck to water: “He took to fatherhood like a duck to water”
2) (roll like) water off a duck’s back: “I can't tell my son what to do; it's water off a duck's back with him”
3) test the waters: “Candidates like to test the waters before running for office”
4) In hot water: “He found himself in hot water over his comments on childcare.”
I've found them in a dictionary but I don't know if they're broadly used in spoken language.
I've already heard many times the expression "water under the bridge". Specially in British contents.
Feb 2, 2021 3:39 PM
Answers · 5
Very common (especially the first two).
A couple more:
“get one’s/our ducks in a row” - make sure well prepared (e.g. work colleagues preparing well together before a meeting)
“a sitting duck” - someone who is unprotected and likely to be a target of something bad
I never realised how many duck idioms we had until now! 🦆
February 2, 2021
These are all VERY common. The expression of "water off a duck’s back" is more commonly used to convey that something doesn't bother someone. For example, "The kids at school would make fun of my shirt. It didn't bother me though. It was like water off a duck's back".
February 2, 2021
You could say for 2 years if you started 2 years ago, otherwise the first one doesn't make sense, it has to be the second one 😊
February 2, 2021
Yes,they are all pretty common, the first one i haven't heard much but it definitely wouldn't make you stick out.
February 2, 2021
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Pedro Rogick
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English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Learning Language
English, French, Spanish
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