dead-beat

A man is a dead-beat who never helps with the chores.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Exhausted: "dead-beat" describes a state of extreme physical or mental fatigue, meaning completely worn out.
   • Damped: In technical contexts, "dead-beat" refers to a measuring instrument (like a compass needle) that comes to rest quickly without oscillating.

2. Noun:

   • A lazy person: "dead-beat" (also spelled "deadbeat") refers to someone who avoids work or responsibility, often living off others.
   • A non-paying person: In informal American English, it specifically means someone who fails to pay debts or fulfill financial obligations, such as a "dead-beat dad."

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • After working for twelve hours straight, I felt absolutely dead-beat. (Extremely tired.)
  • The compass needle is dead-beat, so it settles instantly. (The needle does not swing back and forth.)

• Noun:

  • He's a dead-beat who never holds a job for more than a month. (A lazy, irresponsible person.)
  • The landlord is trying to evict a dead-beat tenant who hasn't paid rent in months. (Someone who avoids paying debts.)

Advanced Usage

• "dead-beat dad": a father who neglects his parental duties, especially financial support.

  • The court ordered the dead-beat dad to pay child support. (A father who fails to provide for his children.)

• "dead-beat escapement": in horology (clockmaking), a type of escapement that stops the pendulum immediately without recoil.

  • The clock uses a dead-beat escapement for precise timekeeping. (A mechanism that halts motion cleanly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Deadbeat (n, adj): the more common spelling; identical in meaning.

  • Stop being a deadbeat and pay your bills. (A person who avoids obligations.)

• Dead-beatness (n): the quality of being exhausted or non-oscillating.

  • The dead-beatness of the instrument ensures accurate readings. (The property of quick rest.)

Synonyms

• Exhausted (adj): very tired.

  • I'm exhausted after the marathon. (Completely worn out.)

• Loafer (n): a lazy person who avoids work.

  • He's a loafer who spends all day on the couch. (An idle person.)

• Defaulter (n): someone who fails to meet financial obligations.

  • The loan defaulter was taken to court. (A person who does not repay debts.)

Related Idioms

• "Dead on one's feet": extremely tired but still standing.

  • She was dead on her feet after the long shift. (Exhausted but continuing.)

• "Not worth a deadbeat's promise": completely unreliable.

  • His word is not worth a deadbeat's promise. (His promises are worthless.)