ENGLISH
REFERENCE

duck and Dive

idiom
Slang Cockney rhyming slang · East London
Meaning

skive


Origin

A duck when diving is hidden beneath the pond's surface and to duck is to avoid a blow by a quick dropping movement.

Examples
SIMPLE

He likes to duck and dive instead of doing his work.

CONTEXTUAL

The employee spent the afternoon ducking and diving to avoid the manager's request for the report.

COMPLEX

Rather than addressing the mounting backlog of tasks, he spent the entire week ducking and diving to escape any real responsibility.

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Last updated June 7, 2026