Definition

In fishing, this term refers to the main part of a fake fly used to attract fish.

Example

The fisherman carefully selected a duffing to improve his chances of catching trout.

Conversation

Have you ever tried making your own duffing for fishing?

No, I haven't! What's that like?

It's actually pretty fun to create your own artificial flies using duffing.

That sounds interesting! I might give it a shot next time.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

To duff means to fail or to mess up something, often used in a context where someone does not perform well or makes a mistake.

Example

He was duffing his chances of winning the game by not practicing enough.

Tense Forms

Conversation

I was really struggling with my golf swing yesterday.

Oh no, did you end up duffing a lot of shots?

Yeah, it was so frustrating to keep duffing the ball.

Root Explanation

The word 'duffing' originates from British slang, meaning to cheat or deceive, particularly in the context of gambling or sports. It is believed to derive from the word 'duff', which means to fail or to be of poor quality, possibly linked to the Old English 'dūfe', meaning to deceive or to cheat.

Memory Tip

Think of 'duff' as something that is of poor quality or a failure, which helps you remember that 'duffing' means to cheat or deceive.

Visually Confused Words