canard

Everyday

1. (formal) A canard is a false story or rumour that many people repeat and believe, especially one spread on purpose. tree →
2. (aircraft) A canard is a small extra wing near the front of a plane, in front of the main wings. tree →
3. (French) In French, «canard» is the ordinary word for a duck; in English it is not used for the bird. tree →

In the lessons

In news and history lessons it means a lie or myth that keeps going round, for example an old rumour about a person or group. It warns the reader that the story is false. Phrases: an old canard, a tired canard, repeat a canard.

Examples

• The idea that we use only ten percent of our brains is an old canard. tree →
• The newspaper had to apologise for spreading the canard. tree →
• The teacher said that story about the king was a canard. tree →
• That plane has small canards in front of its main wings. tree →
• In Paris, Dad ordered «canard», which turned out to be duck. tree →
• Don't repeat that canard about goldfish having a three-second memory. tree →

Note

Countable: a canard, canards. Said «ka-NARD» or «KAN-ard». A formal, bookish word; in everyday talk say «a myth», «a rumour» or «a lie». It comes from French «canard» (duck); old French had a saying about «half-selling a duck», meaning cheating.