Meaning & use
ducking for cover
Last updated
“ducking for cover” is a form of “duck for cover”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
phraseidiom
The act of bending down or moving quickly to protect yourself from danger, especially from something flying toward you.
Grammar: This -ing form works like a verb phrase or a noun phrase: 'They were ducking for cover' or 'Ducking for cover saved them.'
Patterns
- be ducking for cover
- keep ducking for cover
- start ducking for cover
People were ducking for cover as the hailstones grew bigger.
The players kept ducking for cover every time the ball came near them.
She was ducking for cover behind a car when the shots rang out.
phraseidiomfigurative
Trying to avoid blame, criticism, or an unpleasant situation.
Grammar: Figurative use; often follows 'be' or 'keep' and can be followed by 'when'.
Patterns
- be ducking for cover when something happens
- keep ducking for cover
The executives were ducking for cover when the audit results were announced.
He kept ducking for cover whenever journalists asked about the missing money.
Common combinations
- be ducking for cover
- The crowd was ducking for cover as the storm approached.
- keep ducking for cover
- The soldiers kept ducking for cover during the attack.
- start ducking for cover
- Everyone started ducking for cover when the fireworks exploded too low.
- ducking for cover behind something
- They were ducking for cover behind the fence.
- ducking for cover from something
- We were ducking for cover from the falling branches.
Synonyms and how they differ
- taking cover
- 'Taking cover' is more formal and often suggests staying in a safe place, while 'ducking for cover' stresses the quick movement.
- dodging
- 'Dodging' means avoiding something by moving aside, but it does not always mean seeking shelter.
- crouching
- 'Crouching' means bending low, usually without the idea of escaping danger.
Opposites
Word family
- duck for cover phrase
- The base idiom meaning to bend down or move quickly to protect yourself.
- duck verb
- To lower your head or body quickly.
Commonly confused: ducking for cover or duck and cover?
ducking for cover vs duck and cover
'Duck and cover' is a fixed civil-defense phrase about bending down and protecting your head; 'ducking for cover' is the -ing form of the more general 'duck for cover'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'ducking for cover' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The -ing form needs a helping verb such as 'was' or 'is', so 'was ducking for cover' is correct. Option 1 is missing the helping verb, option 2 uses the wrong form of 'duck', and option 3 changes the fixed phrase 'for cover' into 'for covering'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ducking for cover”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.