line up one's ducks

Unknown. Most likely a reference to the line of ducks in a shooting gallery.

• ""Senator Allen was one reason he made up his mind to go to Washington. He'd like to get some of the windbags out of our way and line up our ducks.""
• "On Saturday, August 1, the Commissioner lined up his ducks and summoned the owners to a conference the following day at 12:30 p.m. in his wood-paneled office on the twelfth floor at 410 Park Avenue."
• "In other words, in the course of investigating the single contribution involving one company, Yellow Cab, they had discovered a whole chain involving other companies of C. Arnholt Smith and for that reason they wanted to get Thornton before he had time to line up his ducks."
• "Horace hasn't yet learned to line up his ducks before he starts shooting."

• have one's ducks in a row