Dictionary definition of duckshove from Double-Tongued Dictionary

duckshove v. to disclaim responsibility or to blame others; to pass the buck.

Editorial Note: The Macquarie Dictionary has additional meanings: “1. to use unfair methods; to be unscrupulous in dealings. 2. (of a taxi driver) to solicit passengers along the roadside, rather than waiting in turn at a rank.” The Australian National Dictionary has an earliest citation of 1870 for “to act unethically” and a 1942 earliest citation for “to evade responsibilities.” Related: greenshoe — waffo — rinse — tugger — English — Australia — New Zealand — Slang

2 Comments | Cites | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Citations: 1985 Anthony Hill Australian Financial Review (Feb. 28) “Myths And Furphies Abound On Indirect Tax” p. 4: But Opposition spokesman, Mr Roger Shipton, accused Mr Holding of “duckshoving” and said the response would create more tensions and divisions in Australia. 1993 [Terry Bowden] @ N.Z. Usenet: k12.ed.life-skills (Dec. 17) “School Logo”: It will be toppled by your well meaning but hopelessly misguided eviscerators! It’s time to call a spade a spade again, and stop duck-shoving. 2004 Jane Clifton Stuff (New Zealand) (Dec. 8) “MPs at their shameful best”: Alas, they would have understood only too well Steve Maharey’s comeback when Bill English again harassed him about embarrassing goings-on at Christchurch Polytechnic. After more duckshoving by the minister about whether illicitly extracted taxpayers’ money would be repaid, Mr English asked: “When will he stop giving the impression of a chihuahua savaging a wet lettuce leaf?”

Posted 8 Dec 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Comments:

Anecdotally (ie, in my experience, in Australia) “duckshoving” tends to be used in Union contexts, and by extension by Labor politicians.
by http://homepage.mac.com/shawjonathan/iblog 09 Dec 04, 1201 GMT

Thanks mate . She’s a great aussie word. Heard one union bloke refer to their feet too in the water. Something about pushiness of ducks and their weakness too ( getting under and around obstacles.)
Often true of http://bureaubrats.blogspot.com

by http://hanrahan.blogspot.com 12 Mar 10, 1112 GMT