Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

like water off a duck's back

idiom

/laɪk ˈwɔːtə əv ə dʌks bæk/

Definition

Something that doesn’t affect someone; criticism or complaints that seem to have no effect on the person.

Examples

Despite the harsh criticism, she took it like water off a duck’s back.
He always brushes off insults; they roll off him like water off a duck’s back.
The negative feedback didn’t bother him at all; it was like water off a duck’s back.

Meaning

The phrase describes a situation where a person is unaffected by negative comments or experiences, similar to how water does not soak into a duck’s feathers.