Humor Spot: A Waterfowl Problem

Vendor Problem

In a software design meeting, we were using typical technical jargon to discuss a data exchange interface with a vendor. One co-worker said the programming we had ordered was delayed because the vendor was suffering from a "severe nonlinear waterfowl issue."

Curious, the team leader raised his eyebrows and asked, "What exactly is that?"

The programmer replied, "They don't have all their ducks in a row."

software (noncount noun)	-	the programs, routines, etc. for a computer or computer system
jargon	-	the specialized vocabulary and idioms of those in the same work, profession, etc., as of sportswriters or social workers: a somewhat derogatory term, often implying unintelligibility
data exchange interface (DXI)	-	interface entre un DTE et un DCE, soulageant de la création des cellules un routeur
a vendor	-	one who vends, or sells; seller
delayed	-	postponed until a later time; deferred
nonlinear	-	not in a straight line
waterfowl	-	water bird, especially a swimming bird
an issue	-	a problem
‘to have one’s ducks in a row’	-	for an explanation of this expression, see the post from 07 October 2008

Slang and Idioms 05: Ducks

Today we are going to look at a few idiomatic expressions that use the word 'duck.' 

A common way of saying that you don't let someone's comments or criticism bother you is to say, "It's just water off a duck's back." A politician who doesn't care what the media says about him might say that the criticism rolled off him like water off a duck's back. If someone is very easy to criticize or attack, we say that he is a sitting duck.

Have you ever met someone who learns something very quickly and enjoys it at the same time? When I first started studying French, I took to learning French like a duck to water. The expression to take to something like a duck to water means that you discover you are naturally good at it and you find it very easy to do. To be duck soup is an American expression to say that whatever it is you are doing, you find it to be very, very easy. For me, learning French in high school was duck soup.

My mother is a very organized person, she always has her ducks in a row. This is an American expression and one my mother often uses. To have your ducks in a row simply means to be someone who is very organized. If you want to say that you are in the process of organizing, you'd say, "I'm getting my ducks in a row."

Another uniquely American expression might be heard during this election period to describe President Bush. You might hear him referred to as a lame-duck president. The word 'lame' means unable to walk properly due to pain or injury. Here lame duck refers to any elected official who can no longer really influence events because his or her job is ending soon. This is not a derogatory expression.