Green’s Dictionary of Slang

living a life on the (criminal) margins; avoiding organized jobs, society etc; also as v.

1961		J. Franklyn Dict. of Rhy. Sl. (1981).
1975		‘P.B. Yuill’ Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 68: All the years of ducking and diving from the Old Bill had given him a jaunty little step for a bloke of his age.
1989		in G. Tremlett Little Legs 1: Gotta survive, duck and dive.
1997		(con. 1960s) A. Frewin London Blues 88: He now lives a hand-to-mouth existence ducking and diving and turning his hand to whatever comes along.
2001		I. Welsh Glue 46: N they aw say up the Busy that eh does a loat ay duckin n divin aroond.
2024		J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 392: ‘[C]ontinually delighted by your duckin’, divin’, always survivin’’.