How do you use "Dead duck" in a sentence?

That project is a dead duck. Without funding, we're a dead duck. He knew he was a dead duck.

Dead duck

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★☆☆ Moderate Casual

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Meaning: Something doomed to fail; a person or thing with no chance.

注定失败的事物；没有希望的人或事。

Algo condenado al fracaso; una persona o cosa sin posibilidades.

失敗する運命にあるもの。見込みのない人や物。

실패할 운명인 것, 가망이 없는 사람이나 물건.

A 'dead duck' is doomed—certain to fail with no hope of recovery. Like a duck that's already been shot, it's finished.

'dead duck（死鸭子）'指注定要失败的东西——没有恢复的希望，必然失败。就像已经被射中的鸭子，已经完了。

Un 'dead duck' (pato muerto) está condenado: fracasará con seguridad y sin esperanza de recuperación. Como un pato que ya ha sido abatido, está acabado.

「dead duck（死んだアヒル）」は運命が決まったもの——回復の望みなく、必ず失敗します。すでに撃たれたアヒルのように、もう終わりです。

'Dead duck'은 이미 끝장난 것, 즉 회복의 희망 없이 반드시 실패할 운명을 뜻합니다. 이미 총에 맞은 오리처럼 끝난 상태입니다.

Examples

That project is a dead duck.
那个项目已经没戏了。
Ese proyecto está acabado.
あのプロジェクトはもうダメだ。
그 프로젝트는 이미 끝장났어.
Without funding, we're a dead duck.
没有资金，我们就完了。
Sin financiación, estamos perdidos.
資金がなければ、もうおしまいだ。
자금이 없으면 우린 끝장이야.
He knew he was a dead duck.
他知道自己已经没戏了。
Sabía que estaba acabado.
彼は自分がもうダメだと分かっていた。
그는 자기가 끝장났다는 걸 알고 있었다.

Pronunciation

/ded dʌk/

Usage Guide

Context: failure, doom, hopelessness

Tone: pessimistic, resigned

✓ Do Say

Dead duck
没戏了
causa perdida
もうダメなもの
가망 없는 것
A dead duck
完蛋了
caso perdido
見込みのないもの
끝장난 것

Common Mistakes

About being doomed, not already failed

Origin & History

American expression from the 19th century. A duck that's been shot is certainly dead—the metaphor extends to any venture or person with no chance of success.

Etymology: Hunting: a shot duck is certainly finished

First recorded: 19th century American

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: American expressions

Regional notes: American origin, global usage.

Variations

Dead duckA dead duck