Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
An idiom is an established figurative phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal definitions of its individual words. Understanding its historical origin or cultural context helps clarify its modern figurative meaning.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The phrase "to play ducks and drakes" originates from an old traditional game where players skip flat stones across the surface of a body of water. The first bounce was called a "duck," the next a "drake," and so on.
Over time, this action of skipping stones across water—where the stone is casually thrown away and lost forever for mere amusement—became a popular metaphor for throwing away valuable things. In modern English idiom usage, to play ducks and drakes with your wealth or property means to handle your resources recklessly, to squander them, or to spend money carelessly and foolishly without considering the consequences. This lines up with option (A).
Step 4: Final Answer:
The idiom "ducks and drakes" means to spend money carelessly.