have one's ducks in a rowとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

Perhaps from the image of ducklings following their mother in an orderly line. See also line up one's ducks.

発音

動詞

have one's ducks in a row (third-person singular simple present has one's ducks in a row, present participle having one's ducks in a row, simple past and past participle had one's ducks in a row)

1. (idiomatic) To be organized; to have one's affairs in order; specifically, to have a multiperson effort coordinated towards the exact same goal.

   Wouldn't it be nice to have our ducks in a row and not have to search for the papers every time we needed them?

   • 1911, Kate Langley Bosher, Miss Gibbie Gault‎:

     "You didn't need us." The man standing next to the steps laughed. "The work was done before to-night. You had your ducks in a row all right."

参考

• line up one's ducks
• put one's house in order
• waterfowl alignment

Further reading

• Michael Quinion (created July 11, 2009, last updated June 23, 2012), “Ducks in a row”, in World Wide Words.
• “have all one’s ducks in a row v.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang, Jonathon Green, 2016–present