1. Also, duck and drake . a pastime in which flat stones or shells are thrown across water so as to skip over the surface several times before sinking.
2. play ducks and drakes with , to handle recklessly; squander: He played ducks and drakes with his fortune. Also, make ducks and drakes of .
[ 1575-85; from a fancied likeness to a waterfowl's movements ]