ˌdead ˈduck noun
a dead duck informal a plan, idea etc that is not worth considering because it is very likely to fail:
He admitted that the whole project was a dead duck.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

dead duck
1.
something or someone that is not successful or useful.
The project was a dead duck from the start due to a lack of funding.

My first agent turned out to be a bit of a dead duck and he failed to find me any work.

2.
someone who is going to be punished severely for something they have done.
If Dad finds out you used the car, you'll be a dead duck.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

dead duck
a person or a thing in a hopeless situation
The man is a dead duck and he has no hope of recovering his former position.

The man is a dead duck. When the police catch him he will have to go to jail.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

dead duck
n., slang A person or thing in a hopeless situation or condition; one to whom something bad is sure to happen.
When the pianist broke her arm, she was a dead duck.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲