ducks and drakes

• Brincadeira de arremessar pedras chatas na água para que quiquem na superfície; também usado em sentido figurado para descrever o desperdício leviano de dinheiro ou recursos.

A game of skimming flat stones across the surface of water to make them bounce; also used figuratively to describe wasting money or resources frivolously.

1. Game of skipping stonesB1informalbritish

   A game where flat stones are thrown across water to make them skip as many times as possible.

   Jogo de pedras que saltam na água

   • The children spent the afternoon playing ducks and drakes at the pond.
   • He is very good at ducks and drakes; his stone skipped seven times.
   • We used to play ducks and drakes on our summer holidays.

2. Wasteful spendingC1informalbritish

   To spend money recklessly or wastefully.

   Desperdício de dinheiro

   • He made ducks and drakes of his inheritance within a year.
   • Stop playing ducks and drakes with the company's funds.
   • She played ducks and drakes with her savings on luxury items.