Idiom
ducks in a row
Meanings
To have plans, details, or preparations well organized and ready.
Definition
To have everything organized and ready for action.
If you have your ducks in a row, you have arranged things in the right order and prepared what is needed. It often refers to planning, paperwork, money, or steps in a process. People use it when they want to avoid problems by being organized before they act.
Examples
- Before we pitch to investors, we need to get our ducks in a row.
- She spent the weekend getting her ducks in a row for the move.
- Let’s get our ducks in a row before we announce the new policy.
- He doesn’t travel until he has all his ducks in a row.
- I’m getting my ducks in a row so I can start the project next week.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes say "put my ducks in a row," but the most common phrasing is "get my ducks in a row."
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idioms
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- close but no cigar Used to say someone almost succeeded but did not quite achieve the goal.
- down to the wire Used to say something is decided or finished only at the last possible moment.
- lost the plot To become confused or behave in a way that no longer makes sense.
- brass monkeys “Brass monkeys” is used in the phrase “cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey,” meaning…