He is playing ducks and drakes with his savings.
ducks and drakes
idiomThe squandering of resources, especially money; used in expressions such as "to make ducks and drakes of", "to play (at) ducks and drakes with".
Origin
first recorded 16th c. disputed origin1585, due to association with waterfowl. The precise origin is unclear, and may be from ducks taking off from a pond, or making rings when splashing, or bobbing their heads. Early references are primarily to “making” ducks and drakes, suggesting that the circular rings produced by the skipping stone resemble those created by splashing waterfowl. Sense “to squander, to throw away” shortly thereafter, attested 1614, from sense of “throwing money away, as if throwing stones away in this pastime”.
The manager was fired because he played ducks and drakes with the company's limited budget.
By making ducks and drakes of his inheritance on foolish investments, he quickly found himself in severe financial distress.
- 01
have one's ducks in a row
To be organized; to have one's affairs in order; specifically, to have a multiperson effort coordinated towards the exact same goal.
- 02
hunt where the ducks are
To seek opportunities or results in situations or places where they are most likely to be found.
- 03
line up one's ducks
To organize one's affairs so that one is ready to act efficiently.