narender gade
New member
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2015
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- Telugu
- Home Country
- India
- Current Location
- India
HOW TO USE "OLD DUCK " IDIOMATICALLY
Some (older) BrE speakers use "duck" or "duckie" (or "ducks") as a familiar term for the addressee, in conversation. The speaker is almost always female.
Some (again, older) male BrE speakers use "old duck" as a term of affection for their wives.
"Old duck" can also be used as a synonym for "old chap"; but this is very rare.
These usages belong to very particular contexts and kinds of speaker; also, they now have a slightly old-fashioned air. So it's probably better for an ESL student to avoid them!