Sitting duck and lay an egg?

Posted by ESC on February 14, 2006

In Reply to: Sitting duck and lay an egg? posted by jamesu on February 13, 2006

: what are the origins for sitting duck and lay an egg?

I am guessing that "sitting duck" would mean one that is on the ground and easy to shoot. As oppose to one in flight.

Lay an egg -- "...The 'egg' was a duck's in British sports lingo: as early as 1863 it was said of a player who failed to score in cricket that he 'achieved a duck's egg.' The point being made was the resemblance of an upright egg to a 0 (zero)..." From The Dictionary of Cliches by James Rogers (Wings Books, Originally New York: Facts on File Publications, 1985).

• Sitting duck and lay an egg? Smokey Stover 14/February/06
  • Sitting duck and lay an egg? Brian from Shawnee 14/February/06