sitting duck
B2Informal, idiomatic
Definition
Meaning
A person or thing that is easy to attack or criticize, especially because they are in a vulnerable position.
An easy, defenceless target, particularly one that is static, unprotected, or unaware of danger; often used in military, sports, and figurative contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Used as a compound noun phrase. Implies passivity, vulnerability, and lack of preparedness. The metaphor relies on the literal image of a duck that is not flying (and therefore easily shot).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The phrase is equally common and understood in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both BrE and AmE: extreme vulnerability, predictability, and an easy mark.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties. Slightly more common in AmE journalistic or political commentary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] is/was/feels like a sitting duck[Subject] left/made [Object] a sitting duck for [Threat]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sitting duck”
- “like shooting fish in a barrel (similar concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe a company or product that is vulnerable to a takeover or competitive attack due to poor strategy or market position.
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing. May appear in political science or military history texts to describe vulnerable states or forces.
Everyday
Common in describing personal situations (e.g., waiting alone at night), sports (a stationary goalkeeper), or politics.
Technical
Used in military jargon to describe a stationary, unprotected asset or position that is easily targeted.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The sitting-duck politician faced relentless media scrutiny.
- They felt utterly sitting-duck in the empty car park.
American English
- The sitting-duck CEO was an easy target for the board's criticism.
- We were in a sitting-duck position during the drill.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The goalie was a sitting duck for the penalty kick.
- Without my phone, I felt like a sitting duck.
- If you park your car there overnight, it's a sitting duck for thieves.
- The old software is a sitting duck for hackers.
- The minister's contradictory statements left her a sitting duck for opposition criticism.
- Their undefended flank made the entire battalion a sitting duck.
- The company's stagnant R&D investment rendered it a sitting duck for more innovative competitors in the emerging market.
- By publicly announcing his travel plans, the diplomat made himself a perfect sitting duck for surveillance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a **duck** that is **sitting** on a pond, not flying. A hunter has an easy shot. A person who is a 'sitting duck' is just as easy to 'hit' with criticism or attack.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON/THING IN A VULNERABLE POSITION IS A STATIONARY BIRD (for hunting).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation "сидящая утка". Use established equivalents like "лёгкая добыча", "беззащитная цель", "мишень".
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective directly before a noun without 'a' (e.g., 'He was sitting duck target' is wrong. Correct: 'He was a sitting duck' or 'He was a sitting-duck target').
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following situations is someone MOST LIKELY a 'sitting duck'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it can be used for both people and objects (e.g., a poorly defended building, an old computer system) that are easy targets.
Not typically. It is a standard, informal idiom. However, using it to describe a real victim of violence could be seen as trivialising their situation.
Common conceptual opposites include a 'hard target', a 'moving target', or something described as 'fortified' or 'well-defended'.
Yes, especially when it functions as a compound modifier before a noun (e.g., 'a sitting-duck target'). When used as a predicate noun phrase, it's usually not hyphenated ('He was a sitting duck').
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