like a duck to water
Meaning: Naturally and easily, as if born to it.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “She took to teaching like a duck to water.”
Category: Animals
Origin: Ducklings swim as soon as they reach water. The phrase is found from the 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Comme un poisson dans l'eau — literally: Like a fish in water
More idioms — Animals
- kill the goose that lays the golden eggs — To destroy a source of profit out of greed.
- with one's tail between one's legs — Humiliated and defeated.
- a workhorse — A person or machine that does a large amount of hard, reliable work.
- bite the hand that feeds you — To harm or insult someone who helps you.
- in two shakes of a lamb's tail — Very quickly.
- the bee's knees — Something or someone excellent.
More English idioms
- have a foot in both camps — To be involved with two opposing sides at once.
- deaf as a post — Completely deaf.
- ugly as sin — Very ugly.
- terra firma — Solid ground, as opposed to the sea or the air.
- the sandman is coming — It's time to sleep; someone is getting sleepy.
- soaked to the skin — Completely wet.