Meaning & use
golden ducks
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Meanings
nounpluralsportAustralian
In cricket, two or more instances of a batter being out for zero runs on the very first ball faced.
Grammar: Always plural; used when talking about more than one such dismissal, often in a match report.
Patterns
- score a golden duck
- be out for a golden duck
- two golden ducks
- a pair of golden ducks
The opening batsman scored two golden ducks in the same match.
He was dismissed for a golden duck in the first innings and another in the second.
The team suffered three golden ducks in a row.
nounpluralbiology
A type of small duck with golden-yellow plumage, especially the domestic breed.
Grammar: Refers to the birds themselves; the singular is 'golden duck'.
Patterns
- a flock of golden ducks
- golden ducks swimming
We saw a pair of golden ducks on the pond.
Golden ducks are popular in ornamental waterfowl collections.
Word forms
| singular | golden duck |
|---|
Common combinations
- score a golden duck
- He scored a golden duck on his debut.
- out for a golden duck
- She was out for a golden duck in the final over.
- a pair of golden ducks
- The bowler took a pair of golden ducks in the same over.
- two golden ducks in a row
- The batsman made two golden ducks in a row, which is very rare.
- suffer a golden duck
- The team suffered a golden duck early in the innings.
- golden duck in cricket
- A golden duck in cricket means you are out on the first ball.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- golden duck noun
- The singular form, meaning one such dismissal.
- duck noun
- In cricket, a score of zero; also the bird.
Commonly confused: golden ducks or duck? golden ducks or golden duck (bird)?
golden ducks vs duck
A 'duck' is any zero score; a 'golden duck' is specifically out on the first ball. Don't use them interchangeably.
golden ducks vs golden duck (bird)
The cricket term and the bird name are the same words but different meanings; context makes it clear.
Practice
In cricket, what is a 'golden duck'?
Choose one answer.
'Golden duck' means out for zero on the first ball. Option 0 describes a 'duck' but not necessarily on the first ball; option 2 is a hat-trick; option 3 is a different cricket term.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “golden ducks”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.