Like water off a ducks back

(Feifei and Finn are in the park feeding the ducks.)

Feifei It’s so nice to be here in the park, Finn.

Finn Yes, it is Feifei. I love coming here and feeding the ducks.

Feifei Being here helps take my mind off things. I had a fight with my mother-in-law yesterday.

Finn What was it about?

Feifei Well, she is always criticising everything I do. Last night it was my cooking!

Finn Well, don’t take too much notice of it, Feifei. My mother-in-law is the same. But it’s just like water off a duck’s back to me.

Feifei A duck’s back?!

Finn Yes, in English the phrase ‘water off a duck’s back’ means that criticisms or negative things have no effect on you - they’re just like water off a duck’s back - we don’t let them upset or affect us.

Feifei What an unusual expression!

Finn Yes, it is but, you know, it makes sense. Look at those ducks in the water…

Feifei Ah, I get it! They have oily feathers and water can’t get through them - it doesn’t affect them - so I shouldn’t let the criticism affect me and make me upset.

Finn That’s right. And the phrase ‘water off a duck’s back’ is what we’re teaching today in The English We Speak. Now, let’s listen to some examples of how it’s used.

Examples

I won’t give up on my singing career just because someone said I’m no good. Criticism is water off a duck’s back to me!

I told John not to drive so fast but it was like water off a duck’s back. Last week he crashed his new car. Thankfully nobody was hurt.

Finn Feifei, which dish was it that you cooked that your mother-in-law didn’t like? I’m making dinner tonight and I need a recipe…

Feifei Well, this is probably not the place to mention it…

Finn Oh, I’m intrigued. Can’t you tell me?

Feifei I cooked Peking Duck. You’ll need pancakes, spring onions, a nice juicy roast duck…

Finn Oh, the ducks are not happy!

Feifei I don’t think they like my recipe at all. Let’s go Finn. I can give you a good chicken recipe instead.

Finn I’d like that. My mother-in-law is coming for dinner too. Bye.

Feifei Bye.