water off a duck's back
Criticism doesn't stick
Water off a duck's back describes criticism, insults, or troubles that have no effect on someone—they roll away without being absorbed, like water beading off a duck's oily feathers.
Usually appears with "like": The negative reviews were like water off a duck's back to her.
The phrase suggests either admirable resilience or frustrating imperviousness.
- let it goCease fixating on something
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- composureEmotional self-control
- stiff upper lipControlled emotional restraint
- emotional regulationManaging internal feeling states
brush it off · mindfulness · cool as a cucumber · indifference · no skin off my nose · thick-skinned · tough as nails · self-control · grin and bear it · imperturbability · equanimity · positive thinking · stress management · calmness · fortitude · busy as a bee · compartmentalization · perseverance
water off a duck's backcut to the quick
Injure emotionally at core
cut to the bone · salt in the wound · festering wound · soul-crushing · hit home
water off a duck's backthin-skinned
Easily hurt by remarks
sensitive · vulnerable · hypersensitive · touchy · fragile
water off a duck's backthin-skinned
Easily hurt by remarks
hypersensitive · fragile ego · touchy · oversensitive · prickly
water, waters, watered, watering, waterway, waterfall, waterproof, ducks, ducked