sitting duck

What it means

A sitting duck is a person or thing that is in an obvious, vulnerable position and easy to attack, criticize, or take advantage of. The phrase is used in physical, competitive, and metaphorical contexts — from soldiers in the open to a small business facing aggressive competitors.

Examples

• Without antivirus software, your laptop is basically a sitting duck.
• Standing in the middle of the field, they were sitting ducks.
• Small independent shops became sitting ducks once the big chain moved in.
• Don't be a sitting duck — get insurance before the trip.

Where it comes from

Originally a hunting term — a duck floating motionless on water is far easier to shoot than one in flight. The figurative use spread through American English in the 1940s, especially during and after World War II, applied to vulnerable people and positions.

Related idioms