A duck!

an aquatic bird that, in medieval times, was used to find out if a person was a witch or not.

this stems from the very logical idea that if a person weighs the same as a duck, then that person is made of wood (because both ducks and wood float in water). and since wood burns (just like witches) then that person must be a witch, because witches are made of wood.

therefore, the accused person(s) would be placed on a scale next to a duck, and if they balanced, the person(s) would be burned.
so, if she weighs the same as a duck, then she’s made of wood. and therefore… a witch!
18 more definitions

a duck!
what floats on water and weighs the same as a witch.
when asked by sir benomir, what also floats, king authur exclaimed “a duck”.
an insurance salesperson who is continually frustrated by humans who refuse to listen.
aflac, aflac, aflac!
a form of scientific theory used in the popular movie: monty python and the holy grail.
we found a witch! may we burn her?
a witch? how do you know she’s a witch?
she turned me into a newt!
a newt..?
i got better..
there is a simple way to figure out if she is a witch or not.
witches burn, and what else burns?
wood!
yes, and wood floats. what else floats?
… a duck?
yes! so if this woman weighs as much as a duck, than she is a witch!
to not let things get to you, and allow yourself not to be bothered or annoyed by actions or the current situation you may be in or by what other are doing to manipulate you into bitterness. when everything is building up. i.e. the saying when it rains it pours seems to make sense in describing life at times and acting like a duck is better, because ducks do not run and hide when it rains, they do not try to cover themselves up and avoid it, they do not attack the rain or try fighting it off they simply endure it with pride and dignity like it was not even there in fact they seem to enjoy it while it lasts, and above all do not seem to be bothered by the rain. hence acting like a duck or to act like a duck is better than retaliating and making the situation worse or make everyone think its better to attack and fight rather than be dignified and work it out.
my boss was a jerk and was ripping every one of his customers off, i said something about it, and he made my life difficult by demoting me and threatened to fire me next. i went home the wife through a fit saying we owe more than we can afford and are getting evicted, my kids crying because she is screaming, the landlord is calling har-ssing me over raising the rent. the car needs new tires, and it barely runs and i just act like a duck and try to work it all out somehow, because its better to work it out than add to the problem with retaliation, anger and uncontrollable vulgarities.
what looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, is a duck (probably).
where duck is used as a metaphor for something usually totally unrelated to ducks.
“hey, is that guy a republican?”
“well, if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck.”
in the sport of cricket, when a batsman is out without scoring any runs (points).

also:
golden duck – when a batsman is out after only facing one ball

royal duck – when a batsman is dismissed by the first ball of the innings
“i didn’t score any runs, i got a duck”