blue duck: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (for the fish); Low/Informal (for the idiom)Informal, Colloquial, Regional (North American for fish)
Quick answer
What does “blue duck” mean?
A colloquial name for a specific North American fish species (Sander vitreus glaucus) and an informal term for a person who is a coward.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A colloquial name for a specific North American fish species (Sander vitreus glaucus) and an informal term for a person who is a coward.
As a fish: a bluish variant of the walleye (pickerel). As a colloquial idiom: a person who is timid, easily frightened, or refuses to participate, often in sports or challenging situations. The fish reference is regional and somewhat obscure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The fish 'blue duck' is known only in specific North American (Great Lakes) contexts. The idiomatic meaning is understood but rarely used in the UK, where 'wet' or 'jessie' might be more common for a coward.
Connotations
In the US, the fish term is neutral/factual. The idiom is mildly derogatory and humorous. In the UK, the phrase sounds distinctly American if recognized at all.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects. The idiomatic use is marginally more likely in American casual speech but is not standard.
Grammar
How to Use “blue duck” in a Sentence
[Subject] is a blue duck.Don't be such a blue duck!They called him a blue duck for not jumping.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blue duck” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not used as a verb)
American English
- (Not used as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- He's got a bit of a blue-duck attitude about it.
American English
- That was a blue-duck move, backing out at the last second.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Possibly in very specific ichthyology/zoology texts referring to Sander vitreus glaucus.
Everyday
Very rare informal teasing among friends (idiom).
Technical
Extremely niche in fisheries science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blue duck”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blue duck”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blue duck”
- Using 'blue duck' in formal writing. Confusing it with the more common 'lame duck' (ineffective person/entity).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and informal. 'Chicken' or 'scaredy-cat' are far more common equivalents.
Not commonly. The phrase primarily refers to a fish (walleye variant) or is a metaphorical idiom. There is a New Zealand bird called the whio (blue duck), but this is not the reference in general English.
Only if you are writing specifically about the fish Sander vitreus glaucus. The idiomatic meaning is too informal and obscure for academic writing.
A 'blue duck' is a coward. A 'lame duck' is a person or entity (often a politician) in a powerless position, unable to function effectively.
A colloquial name for a specific North American fish species (Sander vitreus glaucus) and an informal term for a person who is a coward.
Blue duck is usually informal, colloquial, regional (north american for fish) in register.
Blue duck: in British English it is pronounced /bluː ˈdʌk/, and in American English it is pronounced /blu ˈdʌk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's a blue duck when it comes to confrontation.”
- “Don't pull a blue duck on us now!”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a duck painted BLUE with cold feet, too scared to jump into the water.
Conceptual Metaphor
COWARDICE IS A SPECIFIC (BLUE) ANIMAL.
Practice
Quiz
In which context might 'blue duck' be used technically?