layabout
/'leiə,baut/
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who habitually does no work and avoids effort; an idler or loafer: A "layabout" is someone who is consistently lazy, avoids work or responsibilities, and spends time in idleness.
Usage
- The word "layabout" is a countable noun, typically used in informal or disapproving contexts to criticize someone's laziness.
- It often implies a lack of ambition or contribution to society, family, or work.
Examples
- Noun:
- He was dismissed as a good-for-nothing layabout who spent all day watching television.
- The neighborhood knew him as a chronic layabout, always finding excuses to avoid getting a job.
Advanced Usage
- Cultural Connotation: The term can carry a strong social judgment, suggesting the person is a burden or is wasting their potential.
- "A bit of a layabout": A milder, sometimes slightly humorous way to describe someone who is lazy.
- My brother's a bit of a layabout on the weekends, but he works hard during the week.
Variants and Related Words
- Lay about (verb phrase): To recline or lounge idly. This is a phrasal verb and is distinct from the noun "layabout."
- He just lays about the house all day.
- Idler (n): A person who spends time doing nothing.
- Loafer (n): A person who idles time away.
Synonyms
- Idler
- Loafer
- Slacker
- Bum (informal, chiefly US)
- Wastrel (literary)
Antonyms
- Workaholic
- Go-getter
- Hustler
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "Good-for-nothing": Often used similarly to or directly with "layabout" to emphasize worthlessness.
- That good-for-nothing layabout never lifts a finger to help.
- "Born tired": A humorous or sarcastic idiom describing someone who seems inherently lazy, akin to a layabout.
Noun
-
person who does no work
-
a lazy bum
-
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