The Sitting Duck

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Have you ever heard the expression “sitting duck” and wondered what that means? Or have you ever heard someone or something being referred to as a “sitting duck”?

What is the meaning of the expression “sitting duck” and where does the expression find its root?

The expression “sitting duck” is a metaphor for someone or something that is vulnerable to attack or impending danger.

The expression perhaps has its roots in the duck-hunting culture. Imagine a duck sitting placidly in the waters of a lake, trench or pond, oblivious to the aim of the encroaching hunter.

For duck hunters, a sitting duck is much easier to shoot and kill than a duck that is walking or flying.

A sitting duck then is a target with no defense or security from attack. We might say that a country without a capable military is a sitting duck for potential invaders. Someone who walks home late at night without protective measures, especially in a dangerous locality, might be referred to as a “sitting duck” for robbers.

Are you or someone you know a sitting duck? And if so, in what way?

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