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line up one's ducks. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
line up one's ducks, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
line up one's ducks in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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line up one's ducks, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Unknown. Most likely a reference to the line of ducks in a shooting gallery.
Verb
line up one's ducks (third-person singular simple present lines up one's ducks, present participle lining up one's ducks, simple past and past participle lined up one's ducks)
- (informal, idiomatic) To organize one's affairs so that one is ready to act efficiently.
1968, Henrietta Buckmaster, The lion in the stone: a novel, page 340:"Senator Allen was one reason he made up his mind to go to Washington. He'd like to get some of the windbags out of our way and line up our ducks."
1971, George R. Metcalf, Up from Within: Today's New Black Leaders, page 230:On Saturday, August 1, the Commissioner lined up his ducks and summoned the owners to a conference the following day at 12:30 p.m. in his wood-paneled office on the twelfth floor at 410 Park Avenue.
1972, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary, Richard G. Kleindienst Louis Patrick Gray III, page 1453:In other words, in the course of investigating the single contribution involving one company, Yellow Cab, they had discovered a whole chain involving other companies of C. Arnholt Smith and for that reason they wanted to get Thornton before he had time to line up his ducks.
1992, B. J. Hoff, Land of a Thousand Dreams, page 128:Horace hasn't yet learned to line up his ducks before he starts shooting.
See also