made ducks and drakes of
/meɪd dʌks ænd dreɪks ʌv/
VERB
1. To waste or squander money or resources
To spend or use money, possessions, time, or other resources carelessly, extravagantly, or without considering their value or consequences.
1.1. Spending money recklessly
Used when someone spends money freely or irresponsibly, often on unnecessary purchases, luxuries, or indulgences.
Synonyms
- squandered
- wasted
- blew
- splurged
- overspent
- misspent
- frittered away
- ran through
- threw away
- spent recklessly
- lavished
Antonyms
- conserved
- economized
- hoarded
- saved
- scrimped
- skimped
Examples
- He carelessly made ducks and drakes of his savings, spending it all on unnecessary luxuries.
- The young heir made ducks and drakes of his inheritance on expensive cars and extravagant vacations.
- She made ducks and drakes of her monthly salary instead of saving for the future.
Related Words
- extravagance
- wastefulness
- overspending
- recklessness
- dissipation
- indulgence
- frivolity
- financial irresponsibility
1.2. Wasting time or opportunities
Used when someone carelessly misuses valuable time, opportunities, or responsibilities instead of applying them productively.
Synonyms
- squandered
- wasted
- misspent
- frittered away
- threw away
- dissipated
- blew
Antonyms
- preserved
- protected
- conserved
- made good use of
Examples
- Faced with a challenging project deadline, he procrastinated and ultimately made ducks and drakes of his time.
- She made ducks and drakes of several valuable opportunities by refusing to plan ahead.
- The manager made ducks and drakes of the team's resources through careless planning.
Related Words
- procrastination
- mismanagement
- negligence
- irresponsibility
- lost opportunity
- time management