all duck or no dinner — meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  American EnglishBritish Englishinformal
  • Taking an 'all or nothing' stance; insisting on receiving the entire prize, benefit, or outcome and refusing any partial satisfaction.

  Examples

  Beta

  • When negotiating the contract, Sarah insisted it was all duck or no dinner—she wouldn't settle for anything less than the full payment.

    Al negociar el contrato, Sarah insistió en que era todo o nada; no se conformaría con menos que el pago completo.

  • If you want to join the club, it’s all duck or no dinner—you either pay the full fee or you’re not in.

    Si quieres unirte al club, es todo o nada: o pagas la cuota completa o no entras.

  • They were offered a partial refund, but John said it was all duck or no dinner and refused to accept anything less than the total amount back.

    Le ofrecieron un reembolso parcial, pero John dijo que era todo o nada y se negó a aceptar menos que el monto total.

• 2.

  American Englishinformalarchaic
  • Used in a literal or origin sense to indicate that unless all the game (ducks) are obtained, there will be no meal; by extension, a refusal to settle for less than the whole.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Grandpa always said, 'It's all duck or no dinner,' insisting we wait until the whole flock was caught before starting the feast.

    Grandpa always said, 'It's all duck or no dinner,' insisting we wait until the whole flock was caught before starting the feast.

  • If we don’t get all duck, there’ll be no dinner tonight; partial hunting just won’t satisfy the family’s appetite.

    If we don’t get all duck, there’ll be no dinner tonight; partial hunting just won’t satisfy the family’s appetite.

  • The hunters reminded each other that it was all duck or no dinner, so they refused to return without the full catch.

    The hunters reminded each other that it was all duck or no dinner, so they refused to return without the full catch.

  • She told us, 'Remember, it’s all duck or no dinner,' meaning if we don’t secure every bird, the meal wouldn’t be complete.

    She told us, 'Remember, it’s all duck or no dinner,' meaning if we don’t secure every bird, the meal wouldn’t be complete.

• 3.

  American EnglishBritish Englishinformal
  • Demanding complete success or total reward rather than accepting a partial or reduced result.

  Examples

  Beta

  • When negotiating the contract, Tom was all duck or no dinner—he wouldn’t accept anything less than full payment upfront.

    When negotiating the contract, Tom was all duck or no dinner—he wouldn’t accept anything less than full payment upfront.

  • If we only get partial funding, it’s all duck or no dinner for this project, said the manager firmly.

    If we only get partial funding, it’s all duck or no dinner for this project, said the manager firmly.

  • She told her team, 'Remember, it’s all duck or no dinner; we must deliver the complete package or nothing at all.'

    She told her team, 'Remember, it’s all duck or no dinner; we must deliver the complete package or nothing at all.'