duckshove

v. to disclaim responsibility or to blame others; to pass the buck. Subjects: English, Australia, New Zealand, Slang

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.”

1 Comment | 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

Reader comments:

Anecdotally (ie, in my experience, in Australia) “duckshoving” tends to be used in Union contexts, and by extension by Labor politicians.

by Jonathan 09 Dec 04, 1201 GMT