🗓️ Idiom: Have Your Ducks in a Row (adj)
💬 Meaning
- To be well organised and fully prepared.
- To have everything arranged correctly before an important event.
🧠 Example Sentences
- Before going to a job interview, it is important to have your ducks in a row.
- She had her ducks in a row, so she answered every question clearly.
- The team did not have their ducks in a row, and the presentation did not go well.
🏛️ Origin
The idiom likely comes from the way ducklings line up neatly behind their mother. People began using it to describe situations where everything is organised in a clear and orderly way. Today, it is a common business expression for being well prepared.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank
Before the interview, make sure you __________ by reviewing your CV and practice answers.
Answer
have your ducks in a row
2. Multiple choice
What does “have your ducks in a row” mean?
a) To be fully organised and prepared
b) To arrive late on purpose
c) To wait for someone else to lead
Answer
a) To be fully organised and prepared
3. Change the sentence using “have your ducks in a row”
“You need to be well prepared before speaking to the interviewer.”
Answer
You need to have your ducks in a row before speaking to the interviewer.
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