water off a duck's back

Questions

What does water off a duck's back mean?

Something potentially harmful or hurtful, such as criticism or insult, that nevertheless has no effect or impact on the target.

Where does water off a duck's back come from?

From the idea that water rolls easily off a duck's back and does not penetrate the duck's feathers.

How to pronounce water off a duck's back

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “water off a duck's back”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “water off a duck's back”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “water off a duck's back” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.