all one's ducks in a row, get/have
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get all (of) (one's) ducks in a row
To become well organized, prepared, and up to date; to get everything ready or in order. We'll need to start getting all our ducks in a row before the big move! You had better get all of your ducks in a row before you start throwing accusations around.
have all (of) (one's) ducks in a row
To be well organized, prepared, and up to date; to have everything ready or in order. We need to have all our ducks in a row to ensure that there are no problems at home while we're gone on our trip. Before you make those accusations, you better have all of your ducks in a row.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
get one's ducks in a row
Fig. to get one's affairs in order or organized. Jane is organized. She really gets all her ducks in a row right away. You can't hope to go into a company and sell something until you get your ducks in a row.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
all one's ducks in a row, get/have
Be completely prepared and well organized. This colloquialism from the second half of the 1900s alludes to lining up target ducks in a shooting gallery. Sue Grafton used it in R Is for Ricochet (2004): “The trick is not to alert him until we have all our ducks in a row.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer