When to Use Ducking and Diving?

the action of cleverly doing everything you can in order to succeed, or to avoid a situation, even when this may not be completely acceptable or honest: He was well known for his ducking and diving under any sort of pressure.

Where does the expression ducking and diving come from?

This was favoured by Charles 2nd and remained popular until the early 19th century. Ducks wings were pinioned and they were thrown into the village pond to be hunted by spaniels. The only way the ducks could escape was to dive.

What is Duck someone?

transitive verb. 1 : to lower (the head, the body, etc.) quickly : bow. 2 : avoid, evade duck the issue. 3 British : to thrust (someone or something) underwater : dunk.