duck
gb/dˈʌk/ us/dˈʌk/
A1
English
~ 7200
kacsa, kacsahús, lehajol, lebukik, lebújik, kitér, kibújik, nulla futás, nullás kiesés, kedvesem, aranyom, drágám, lehajolás, fejlehajtás, erős pamutvászon, duck vászon
NOUN
A1
1
kacsa
A1
Usage pattern:
a duck [in/on/at] [a place]
A pair of ducks were swimming quietly on the lake.
Egy kacsapár csendesen úszott a tavon.
The children threw bread to the ducks in the park pond.
A gyerekek kenyeret dobáltak a parki tóban úszó kacsáknak.
We saw a duck dive under the water to catch a fish.
A mother duck led her ducklings across the road.
Wild ducks often migrate south for the winter.
Learner examples
The duck is swimming on the pond.
A kacsa a tavon úszik.
We saw many ducks at the lake.
Sok kacsát láttunk a tónál.
A baby duck followed its mother.
He took a photo of a duck on the river.
I can hear ducks near the water.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the animal noun 'duck' with the verb 'to duck' (to move your head or body down quickly). The stress and pronunciation are the same, so use context to decide: if it is an animal, it is a noun; if it is an action, it is a verb.
Meaning
Water bird with broad bill
Collocations
wild duck
|duck pond
|mother duck
|ducklings
|flock of ducks
|duck hunting
Synonyms
waterfowl (More general; includes ducks and similar birds like geese and swans.)
Themes
animals
|nature
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A bird that lives on or near water, with a wide beak and webbed feet, often seen swimming on lakes and ponds.
A common water bird, often found on lakes, rivers, and ponds, with a broad flat bill, short legs, and webbed feet.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[cook/eat/serve] duck
We ordered roast duck with orange sauce for dinner.
Vacsorára narancsmártással sült kacsát rendeltünk.
Duck is richer and fattier than chicken.
A kacsahús teltebb ízű és zsírosabb, mint a csirkehús.
The restaurant is famous for its Peking duck.
She marinated the duck overnight before roasting it.
They served sliced duck breast on a bed of vegetables.
Learner examples
We had roast duck for dinner.
Vacsorára sült kacsát ettünk.
He likes duck more than chicken.
Jobban szereti a kacsahúst, mint a csirkehúst.
They cooked duck with rice and vegetables.
I want to try Peking duck one day.
Duck is a special meal in that restaurant.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'duck' can mean any kind of bird meat. It only means meat from a duck. Use 'chicken', 'turkey', or 'poultry' for other birds.
Meaning
Meat from a duck
Collocations
roast duck
|Peking duck
|crispy duck
|duck breast
|duck meat
|duck sauce
Synonyms
poultry (More general; refers to the meat of all domestic birds, such as chicken, turkey, and duck.)
Themes
food
|cooking
|daily life
|food_drink
Definition
The meat from a duck that people cook and eat.
The meat of a duck, used as food.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to duck [down/under/behind] [something]
She had to duck quickly as the ball flew past her head.
Gyorsan le kellett hajolnia, amikor a labda elszállt a feje mellett.
He ducked under the low branch and kept walking.
Lehajolt az alacsony ág alatt, és továbbment.
Everyone ducked down when they heard the loud bang.
The soldier ducked behind the wall for cover.
I barely had time to duck before the camera hit me in the face.
Learner examples
Duck, or the ball will hit you.
Hajolj le, különben eltalál a labda.
He ducked under the table during the earthquake.
A földrengés alatt lebújt az asztal alá.
They ducked when they heard the gunshot.
She ducked behind the door to hide.
I saw him duck his head and run.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'bend' instead of 'duck'. 'Bend' is slower and more general; 'duck' is quick and often done to avoid danger or to hide.
Meaning
Lower body quickly to avoid
Collocations
duck down
|duck under the table
|duck behind the wall
|duck his head
|duck out of the way
Synonyms
dodge (Often suggests moving to the side or in a quick pattern; 'duck' focuses on moving downward.)
Antonyms
stand up straight (Means keeping your body upright and not lowering it to avoid something.)
Themes
movement
|safety
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To move your head or body down very quickly so that something does not hit you or so that people do not see you.
To move your head or body down suddenly, especially to avoid being hit or seen.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
to duck [a responsibility / a question / an issue]
The minister tried to duck the question about rising prices.
A miniszter megpróbált kitérni az emelkedő árakról szóló kérdés elől.
He always ducks responsibility when something goes wrong.
Mindig kibújik a felelősség alól, ha valami rosszul sül el.
Stop ducking the issue and tell us what really happened.
She ducked the invitation by saying she was too busy.
The company cannot duck its duty to keep customers safe.
Learner examples
He ducked the question and changed the topic.
Kitért a kérdés elől, és témát váltott.
She always ducks her duties at home.
Mindig kibújik az otthoni kötelességei alól.
Don’t duck the problem; talk about it.
They tried to duck paying the full bill.
The boss will not let you duck this job.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning is about the physical action. In this sense, 'duck' is abstract and usually takes an object like 'question', 'issue', or 'responsibility'.
Meaning
Avoid responsibility or a problem
Collocations
duck a question
|duck the issue
|duck responsibility
|duck the problem
|duck paying
Synonyms
evade (More formal; often used about avoiding the law or taxes.)
Antonyms
face (Means to confront and deal with a problem or responsibility directly.)
Themes
work
|communication
|ethics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To try not to do something you should do, or not answer a difficult question.
To avoid dealing with something, especially a responsibility, duty, or difficult question.
NOUN
B2
5
nulla futás
C2
Usage pattern:
out for a duck
Their opening batter was out for a duck in the first over.
A nyitó ütőjátékosuk már az első overben nulla futással esett ki.
It was his third duck in four innings.
Ez volt a harmadik nullás kiesése négy inning alatt.
The crowd groaned as she fell for a golden duck.
He managed just a duck in the final, despite his good form.
Two players scored ducks, and the team collapsed to 75 all out.
Learner examples
The player was out for a duck.
A játékos nulla futással esett ki.
He got a duck in yesterday’s cricket match.
A tegnapi krikettmeccsen nulla futással esett ki.
She has had two ducks this season.
Fans were sad when their star hit a duck.
Another duck put the team in trouble.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'duck' here is the animal. In cricket, 'a duck' almost always means a score of zero, especially in phrases like 'out for a duck'.
Meaning
Score of zero in cricket
Collocations
out for a duck
|score a duck
|golden duck
|dismissed for a duck
|another duck
Synonyms
zero (General word for no points; 'duck' is specific to cricket score.)
Antonyms
century (In cricket, a score of 100 runs, the opposite extreme of scoring nothing.)
Themes
sports
Definition
In cricket, when a player is out without scoring any runs.
In cricket, a score of zero by a batter.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
6
Usage pattern:
[Hello/Thanks], duck
“Alright, duck?” the shopkeeper asked with a smile.
– Minden rendben, kedvesem? – kérdezte mosolyogva a boltos.
Thanks, duck, that was really kind of you.
Köszönöm, kedvesem, ez igazán kedves volt tőled.
Come on then, my duck, let’s get you home.
He greeted her with a warm, “Morning, duck.”
In some parts of England, people call strangers “duck” in a friendly way.
Learner examples
“Thanks, duck,” she said in a friendly voice.
– Köszönöm, kedvesem – mondta barátságos hangon.
The waiter said, “What can I get you, duck?”
A pincér azt kérdezte: – Mit hozhatok, kedvesem?
People in that city often say “Alright, duck?”
She called her friend “my duck” as a joke.
You may hear “duck” as a sweet name in England.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this is about the bird. In this sense, it is used like 'dear' or 'love', mainly in some UK regions. It is not common in American English.
Meaning
Informal term of endearment
Collocations
alright, duck
|thanks, duck
|my duck
|love and duck
Synonyms
dear (More widely used and slightly more formal; 'duck' is regional and very informal.)
Themes
relationships
|daily life
|communication
Definition
A friendly, loving word used to talk to someone you like, similar to 'dear' or 'love' in some parts of the UK.
An informal, friendly way of addressing someone, used as a term of endearment, especially in some regions of the UK.
NOUN
C1
7
lehajolás
B1
fejlehajtás
B2
Usage pattern:
with a duck of [his/her] head
With a duck of his head, he slipped under the low beam.
A fejét lehajtva átbújt az alacsony gerenda alatt.
She avoided the punch with a quick duck and step back.
Egy gyors lehajolással és hátralépéssel elkerülte az ütést.
A sudden duck saved him from the flying stone.
He met the camera with a sharp duck and a nervous laugh.
One swift duck and twist took her out of danger.
Learner examples
With a duck of his head, he passed under the bar.
A fejét lehajtva átment a rúd alatt.
She made a quick duck to avoid the ball.
Egy gyors lehajolással elkerülte a labdát.
His duck came too late, and the snowball hit him.
A fast duck saved him from the branch.
He escaped the hit with one duck and a jump.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this noun use with the verb and add 'to' before it. As a noun, it is used in phrases like 'with a duck of his head', not '*with a to duck of his head'.
Meaning
Quick downward movement
Collocations
a quick duck
|with a duck of his head
|gave a little duck
Synonyms
dodge (Often suggests a sideways movement; 'duck' here focuses on a downward motion.)
Themes
movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A fast move where you put your head or body down to avoid something.
A quick movement of lowering the head or body to avoid being hit or seen.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
8
duck vászon
C2
Usage pattern:
duck fabric / cotton duck
The tent is made from heavy duck to withstand bad weather.
A sátor vastag, erős pamutvászonból készült, hogy ellenálljon a rossz időnek.
She chose cotton duck for the work overalls.
Erős pamutvásznat választott a munkás-overálhoz.
Duck canvas is ideal for making durable bags.
The sails were sewn from tightly woven duck.
These jackets are constructed from water-resistant duck fabric.
Learner examples
The bag is made from strong duck cloth.
A táska erős pamutvászonból készült.
He bought cotton duck to make a tent.
Erős pamutvásznat vett, hogy sátrat készítsen.
Duck fabric is thick and hard to tear.
They used duck canvas for the work pants.
This jacket is made of heavy duck.
Common mistake:
Learners often do not know this technical meaning and think 'duck' here is the bird. When you see 'duck fabric' or 'cotton duck', it refers to cloth, not an animal.
Meaning
Strong cotton fabric
Collocations
cotton duck
|duck canvas
|heavy duck
|duck cloth
Synonyms
canvas (A closely related heavy fabric; 'duck' is usually a specific type of canvas-like cloth.)
Themes
clothing
|crafts
|materials
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very strong cotton cloth used to make things like work clothes, tents, and bags.
A strong, plain-woven cotton fabric used for work clothes, tents, sails, and similar heavy-duty purposes.
Grammar
Dictionary form
duck
IPA
GB/dˈʌk/
US/dˈʌk/
Syllables & stress
duck (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (duck)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: duck
- Plural: duck, ducks
Verb
- Base: duck
- 3rd Person Singular: ducks
- Present Participle: ducking
- Past: ducked
Word family
Forms
ducks
noun
ducking
verb
ducked
verb
Core family
duckling
noun
Related words
drake
noun
Expressions
dead duck
1/dˈɛd dˈʌk/
idiom
informal
Person or thing with no chance
A person, plan, or thing that has no chance of success or is already finished and cannot be saved.
Examples
- After the scandal, the project was a dead duck.
- If we lose this client, the company is a dead duck.
- Without funding, the idea will be a dead duck.
duck and cover
1/dˈʌk ˈænd kˈʌvɚ/
fixed phrase
Lower and protect yourself
To quickly move your body down and protect your head, usually because something dangerous might hit you.
Examples
- When you hear the alarm, duck and cover under a desk.
- People on the street had to duck and cover as debris fell from the building.
- In an earthquake drill, children are taught to duck and cover.
duck down
1/dˈʌk dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
Lower your body quickly
To move your body down very quickly so that you are lower than before, often to avoid something.
Examples
- Duck down or you’ll hit your head on the beam.
- Everyone ducked down when the fireworks went off too close.
- He ducked down behind the sofa to hide from his little sister.
duck into
1/dˈʌk ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
Go quickly into a place
To go into a place quickly, usually for only a short time.
Examples
- I’m just going to duck into the shop to buy some milk.
- She ducked into a café to get out of the rain.
- We ducked into a side street to avoid the crowds.
duck out
1/dˈʌk ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
Leave or escape quickly
To leave a place or situation quickly, often so that people do not notice or so that you can avoid something.
Examples
- I’m going to duck out a bit early to catch the train.
- She ducked out of the meeting before anyone could ask her a question.
- He tried to duck out without saying goodbye.
get your ducks in a row
1/ɡˈɛt jˈʊɹ dˈʌks ˈɪn ə ɹˈoʊ/
idiom
informal
Get well organized
To arrange your plans, information, or work in an organized way before you start something important.
Examples
- Once we get our ducks in a row, we can launch the project.
- You need to get your ducks in a row before the interview.
- The team spent weeks getting their ducks in a row for the trial.
like a duck to water
1/lˈaɪk ə dˈʌk tə wˈɔtɚ/
idiom
Do something naturally and easily
Used to say that someone learns or does a new activity very easily and naturally, as if they have always done it.
Examples
- She took to driving like a duck to water.
- He handled his new job like a duck to water.
- The kids took to the new software like ducks to water.
like water off a duck's back
1/lˈaɪk wˈɔtɚ ˈɔf ə dˈʌks bˈæk/
idiom
Criticism has no effect
Used to say that criticism, problems, or bad words do not affect someone at all.
Examples
- You can shout at him all day; it’s like water off a duck’s back.
- The negative comments were like water off a duck’s back to her.
- For some politicians, scandals are like water off a duck’s back.
lucky duck
1/lˈʌki dˈʌk/
idiom
informal
Playful term for a lucky person
A friendly, playful way to call someone lucky when something good happens to them.
Examples
- You got tickets to the concert? You lucky duck!
- What a lucky duck, getting a week off work.
- She’s a lucky duck to live so close to the beach.
sitting duck
1/sˈɪtɪŋ dˈʌk/
idiom
Someone who is an easy target
A person or thing that is easy to attack, harm, or trick because they cannot protect themselves well.
Examples
- Without any backup, the soldiers were sitting ducks.
- If you leave your bike unlocked, it’s a sitting duck for thieves.
- With that bright shirt, you’ll be a sitting duck in paintball.
lame duck
1/lˈeɪm dˈʌk/
idiom
official with little real power
An elected leader or group that is still in office but has lost real power, usually because their time in office will end soon or they have already been replaced.
Examples
- After the election, the prime minister was a lame duck until the new government took over.
- He became a lame duck president after losing the election.
- Many say a lame duck president finds it hard to start new big projects.
- The company is now a lame duck waiting to be bought.
- Critics say the policy is a lame duck that will never be used.