Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

have one's ducks in a row

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.72 in modern English

Syllables: have one's -duck-s in a row
IPA

35

Scrabble Score

19

Letters

3

Syllables

14

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To be organized; to have one's affairs in order; specifically, to have a multiperson effort coordinated towards the exact same goal.

Example Sentences

"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?"
""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.""

Etymology

Perhaps from the image of ducklings following their mother in an orderly line. See also line up one's ducks.

Inflected Forms

has one's ducks in a row (present, singular) having one's ducks in a row (participle, present) had one's ducks in a row (participle, past) had one's ducks in a row (past) get one's ducks in a row (alternative) put one's ducks in a row (alternative)

Phrases

line up one's ducks put one's house in order waterfowl alignment

Frequently Paired Words

line up one's ducks put one's house in order waterfowl alignment

Questions

What does have one's ducks in a row mean?: To be organized; to have one's affairs in order; specifically, to have a multiperson effort coordinated towards the exact same goal.
Where does have one's ducks in a row come from?: Perhaps from the image of ducklings following their mother in an orderly line. See also line up one's ducks.

How to pronounce have one's ducks in a row

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