play ducks and drakes with (Meaning)

play ducks and drakes with

the pastime of skimming flat stones or shells along the surface of calm water, to use recklessly

The mischievous children played ducks and drakes with the pebbles, skipping them across the pond.
Her careless words played ducks and drakes with the fragile relationship they had built.
The irresponsible politician played ducks and drakes with the public's trust, making reckless promises.
The reckless driver played ducks and drakes with the lives of innocent pedestrians.
The company's reckless spending played ducks and drakes with its financial stability.
The bully played ducks and drakes with the smaller student, tormenting him mercilessly.
The hacker played ducks and drakes with the company's security system, causing chaos and disruption.
The gambler played ducks and drakes with his life savings, betting recklessly and losing everything.
The student played ducks and drakes with his future by skipping classes and neglecting his studies.
The scientist played ducks and drakes with the experiment, making changes without proper documentation, which ultimately rendered the results useless.

the pastime of skimming flat stones or shells along the surface of calm water, to use recklessly

trifle (away), throw away, spend,lose, run through, fritter (away), dissipate, lavish,waste, blow

economize,conserve, protect, preserve,save, skimp, lay up,hoard, scrimp

The mischievous children played ducks and drakes with the pebbles, skipping them across the pond.

Her careless words played ducks and drakes with the fragile relationship they had built.

The irresponsible politician played ducks and drakes with the public's trust, making reckless promises.

The reckless driver played ducks and drakes with the lives of innocent pedestrians.