break one's duck — meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  UKAustraliaNew ZealandGeneralinformalneutral
  • To achieve a first success or to score for the first time after a period of failure or nonachievement.

  Examples

  Beta

  • After months of trying, the batsman finally broke his duck with a solid 50 runs.

    After months of trying, the batsman finally broke his duck with a solid 50 runs.

  • The new employee broke his duck by closing his first big sale yesterday.

    The new employee broke his duck by closing his first big sale yesterday.

  • Our team was struggling all season but managed to break their duck with a win last weekend.

    Our team was struggling all season but managed to break their duck with a win last weekend.

• 2.

  UKAustraliaNew Zealandneutralsport
  • Originally from cricket: to end a sequence of innings in which a batsman had been dismissed without scoring (a 'duck') by scoring runs.

  Examples

  Beta

  • After failing to score in his first five innings, James finally broke his duck with a solid 23 runs.

    After failing to score in his first five innings, James finally broke his duck with a solid 23 runs.

  • Do you think the young batsman will break his duck in this match, or will the bowlers keep him scoreless again?

    Do you think the young batsman will break his duck in this match, or will the bowlers keep him scoreless again?

  • She has been eager to break her duck this season, and yesterday she hit a beautiful boundary to do just that.

    She has been eager to break her duck this season, and yesterday she hit a beautiful boundary to do just that.