“Get your ducks in a row” means to ensure all details are accounted for before starting a project. The origin is uncertain, with theories including bowling pins, mother ducks, carnival games, and the V formation of flying ducks.
Lining up your ducks essentially means making sure all the little details or elements are accounted for and in their correct locations before embarking on a new project. A defense attorney, for example, may spend a great deal of time making sure that all evidence and witnesses are presented in an accurate and effective order. A salesperson can get all of his “ducks in a row” by rehearsing his sales pitch beforehand. When a person is fully prepared for any eventuality and has all the elements in place, he can truly be said to have his ducks lined up.
Etymologically speaking, your hypothesis about the origin of this saying is as good as any. There are at least three plausible theories surrounding the origin of “get your ducks in line,” plus others that, at the very least, bring up an interesting topic. Some sources suggest that the phrase wasn’t even used in print until the late 1970s, although a 1932 magazine article suggested “getting our cheap ducks in line.”
The most popular theory suggests that “ducks in a row” come from the world of sports, specifically bowling. Early bowling pins were often shorter and thicker than modern pins, which has led to the ducks’ nickname. Before the advent of self-resetting machines, these “duck pins” were manually reset between batches. Therefore, having one’s ducks lined up would be a metaphor for having all the pins organized and positioned correctly before sending the next ball down the lane. Many bowling alleys still offer “duck pin” lanes with smaller bowling balls and shorter pins.
Another theory comes from the natural world. Mother ducks often herd their young offspring in manageable straight lines before traveling on land or water. Any stragglers or escapees would be noticed as long as the integrity of this line is maintained. The idea of putting all of your ideas or ingredients or team members into one organized line would be similar to a mother duck putting all of her literal ducks in a row. One concern with this theory is the use of the word ducks, as ducks are more correctly identified as ducklings or even chicks. The common expression suggests adult ducks, not necessarily younger ducklings.
There are also sources that claim that the “ducks in a row” element refers to a carnival game or two. A popular carnival game has the player use a small-bore rifle or air pistol to shoot down moving targets. Most often these targets are shaped like ducks and a conveyor belt system ensures that the duck targets are lined up in a consistent row. It is possible that the expression comes from the advantage of having all the targets (ducks) arrive in a predictable and organized order.
A different carnival game uses plastic ducks that float in a water-filled track as players attempt to select those with high-value prize codes hidden underneath. These plastic ducks are usually presented in a moving row for easier selection by the players.
It is also possible that the expression derives from the natural formation of the flight of ducks as they move across the sky. The most efficient arrangement is a V formation behind the leader, allowing each duck to take advantage of the reduced wind resistance. Having all of one’s metaphorical ducks lined up would be just as efficient and logical as flying in such an organized formation.
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