2duck verb
ducks; ducked; duck·ing 1 a [no obj] : to lower your head or body suddenly to avoid being seen or hit
▪ The ceiling was so low I had to duck. — often + down ▪ Quick, duck down before they see us!
b [+ obj] : to lower (your head) suddenly
▪ The ceiling was so low I had to duck my head. ▪ He ducked his head so they wouldn't see him.
c [+ obj] : to avoid (something, such as a punch) by lowering your head or body suddenly
▪ He ducked the punch. 2 [+ obj] : to avoid (something or someone you do not want to see or deal with)
▪ We can't afford to duck the issue any longer. ▪ He managed to duck [=evade] the question. ▪ They've been ducking each other for months. 3 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to move quickly
▪ She ducked into a store when it started to rain. ▪ He ducked around a corner. 4 [+ obj] Brit : to push (someone or something) underwater : dunk
▪ The children were ducking each other in the pool.
▪ The ceiling was so low I had to duck. — often + down ▪ Quick, duck down before they see us!
b [+ obj] : to lower (your head) suddenly
▪ The ceiling was so low I had to duck my head. ▪ He ducked his head so they wouldn't see him.
c [+ obj] : to avoid (something, such as a punch) by lowering your head or body suddenly
▪ He ducked the punch.
▪ We can't afford to duck the issue any longer. ▪ He managed to duck [=evade] the question. ▪ They've been ducking each other for months.
▪ She ducked into a store when it started to rain. ▪ He ducked around a corner.
▪ The children were ducking each other in the pool.
duck out
[phrasal verb] informal : to leave suddenly and usually without telling anyone that you are leaving
▪ We ducked out after the first act of the play. — often + on or of ▪ They ducked out on us without even saying goodbye. ▪ I had to duck out of the meeting to take a phone call. — often used figuratively ▪ He wants to duck out of the contract. [=to get out of the contract] ▪ She ducked out on paying the bill for the meal. [=she avoided paying the bill in a sneaky or improper way]
▪ We ducked out after the first act of the play. — often + on or of ▪ They ducked out on us without even saying goodbye. ▪ I had to duck out of the meeting to take a phone call. — often used figuratively ▪ He wants to duck out of the contract. [=to get out of the contract] ▪ She ducked out on paying the bill for the meal. [=she avoided paying the bill in a sneaky or improper way]
