Do you have all your ducks in a row?

[Anonymous]

That's funny. I like that. But, what does it mean and where did it come from?

1. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, ISBN 0-06-270133-9

An American expression meaning to have one's arrangements completed, to have things organized or lined up; or, literally, to have one's skittles set up. In an American bowling alley the skittles, or pins, are called ducks.

2. From the Phrase Finder Forum

Primitive versions of modern bowling were known many centuries ago. Pins of varied sizes and shapes were employed. Eventually they were standardized at fifteen inches in both height and circumstances. Originally called ten-pins, the equipment used in Europe was employed in the earliest American bowling saloons. The game was modified by introduction of a short, slender pin that was compared with a duck and, by extension, called them duckpins. So many people reset so many pins in rows that one who completes a task is commended as having put his 'ducks in a row.'

      http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board ... s/707.html

3. From the Forty Ducks page

How simple it seemed. My marks were excellent. The second year, reading Caesar's Gallic wars was not. That's where "Forty Ducks in a Row" came into being. Caesar's Latin actually read, "Forte Dux in Aro" - translated to "Brave Leader in Battle". We wise guys merely visualized it the other way perhaps because it was easier to remember.

      http://www.backinthebronx.com/magazine/ ... yducks.htm
 
4. From Chuck Moreland's Phrases with Origings page

Baby ducklings swim in a straight line behind the mother duck. If the ducklings stray to far, the mother duck will get them back in line, that is get her ducks in a row.

      http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOr ... ucksInARow
   
5. Other possibilities
         
1. As a nickname for the soldiers of the Bombay Presidency
         
2. From a children's game called "duckstones"
         
3. From an arcade game of marksmanship involving plastic ducks
       
4. From a sailor's trousers, called "ducks".

5. From military tents made of untwiled linen
         
6. From a tank (or similar military vehicle) formation
         
7. From the formation ducks use when flying low over water


Of these selections, we suggest that Brewer's explanation is the most plausible.

A seemingly simple statement. Yet, so much too it. So much to learn. It's almost... too much.

[Anonymous]

I shot all my ducks, and ate them for breakfast.

[Anonymous]

There is no chicken in this recepie. Why is it called Chicken Fried Duck?
Oz girl

[try another castle]

There's no chicken in chicken fried steak, either. That's just the term for when something is fried in a certain way. It's chicken fried. It's a southern thing.

The only one I never understood was chicken fried chicken. What's the difference between that and just regular fried chicken?

[Deborah]

The only one I never understood was chicken fried chicken. What's the difference between that and just regular fried chicken?

No bones. The breast is then pounded out flat, battered, and deep fried, just like chicken fried steak.
Then smothered with cream gravy.

[try another castle]

The only one I never understood was chicken fried chicken. What's the difference between that and just regular fried chicken?

No bones. The breast is then pounded out flat, battered, and deep fried, just like chicken fried steak.
Then smothered with cream gravy.

::puke::

uugggh.. no offense. A little heavy for me.

At least it's not a turducken.

[69]

I'll go as far as cat, but i draw the line at dog.