In an earlier episode, the hosts discussed the phrase “all over it like a duck on a junebug,” which refers to doing something with great eagerness. Martha shares an email from a Wisconsin listener who’s watched plenty of ducks interact with junebugs and offers a vivid description of what that looks like. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Duck on a Junebug”
A while back we had a call about the expression like a duck on a June bug.
It means to go after something really, really eagerly.
You remember that call, Grant?
Yeah, I do. It was good.
But both you and I said that we had never seen a duck on a June bug,
So we were just sort of reporting what we’d read, right?
That a duck going after a June bug is the very picture of alacrity.
Well, we heard from somebody who has actually seen this in action.
Jeannie from Wisconsin writes,
We used to hang a light bulb on a low post in the yard after dark and sit on benches and watch my pet ducks go crazy for the June bugs who were attracted to the light.
They would practically jump up for them, and if you’ve ever seen a duck try to jump, it’s very funny.
She writes,
My boyfriend’s two young sons said that the duck and June bug show was better than cartoons on TV.
I liked it because though I don’t mind most insects, I think June bugs are disgusting, so I was glad to see them eaten up.
She says a duck on a June bug can be described as synonymous with wham!
So there you have it, a report from the wild about what a duck on a June bug actually looks like.
Very, very eager and enthusiastic.
If you’ve got a comment or correction or an addition to something we’ve talked about on the show, by all means, let us know.
You can send it in an email to words@waywordradio.org or give us a call at 1-877-929-9673.
