chance the ducks
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To take a risk.
Register: dated, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
an expression signifying come what may. "I’ll do it, and CHANCE THE DUCKS."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “chance the ducks” mean?
To take a risk.
Is “chance the ducks” formal or informal?
chance the ducks is generally dated, slang.