get one's ducks in a row
Sort everything out
To get one's ducks in a row is to organize everything properly before taking action—lining up details, resolving uncertainties, making sure nothing is overlooked.
The phrase suggests methodical preparation: I need to get my ducks in a row before the audit.
Someone with their ducks in a row is ready to proceed; someone without them is disorganized or unprepared.
- preparingMaking ready beforehand
- equippingProviding necessary tools
- schedulingAssigning times to events
- prioritizingOrdering by importance
- optimizingImproving to best effect
systematizing · streamlining · rehearsing · structuring · aligning · tidying · strategizing · mapping out · anticipating · dotting the i's · arranging · game plan · synchronizing · categorizing · assembling · setting up · tying up loose ends · sorting out
get one's ducks in a rowwing it
Act without preparation
fly by the seat of one's pants · play it by ear · improvise · shoot from the hip · drop the ball