shirker

/'ʃə:kə/

Thân thiện

A shirker pretends to be busy with paperwork while his colleagues work hard.

Definition

Noun: A person who deliberately avoids work, duty, or responsibility. The term often implies laziness, evasion, or a lack of commitment, particularly in contexts where effort or service is expected or required.

Usage

The word "shirker" is used to label someone who avoids their obligations. It carries a negative, disapproving connotation and is often used in formal, workplace, or military contexts to criticize a person's character or work ethic. - It is a countable noun (e.g., a shirker, two shirkers). - It is typically used as a predicate noun or a direct object.

Examples

• As a predicate noun:
  • He was labeled a shirker by his teammates for never attending practice.
  • During the group project, she was seen as the shirker because she contributed nothing.
• As a direct object:
  • The manager fired the shirker for consistently missing deadlines.
  • The sergeant had no tolerance for shirkers in his unit.

Advanced Usage

• "No room for shirkers": A common phrase used in teams or organizations to emphasize that lazy or uncommitted people are not welcome.
  • This startup is fast-paced; there's no room for shirkers here.
• "Chronic shirker": Used to describe someone who habitually and persistently avoids work.
  • The department's productivity improved after the chronic shirker was let go.

Variants and Related Words

• Shirk (verb): To avoid or neglect (a duty or responsibility).
  • He tends to shirk his household chores.
• Shirking (gerund/noun): The act of avoiding work or duty.
  • Shirking of responsibilities will not be tolerated.

Synonyms

• Slacker: A person who avoids work or effort. (Very close in meaning, but can sound slightly more informal.)
• Idler: A person who spends time doing nothing.
• Malingerer: A person who pretends to be ill to avoid duty or work. (More specific, often used in military or medical contexts.)
• Goldbrick (informal, chiefly US): A person who shirks assigned work.

Antonyms

• Hard worker
• Diligent person
• Go-getter (informal)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To shirk one's duty/responsibility: The standard verb phrase from which "shirker" is derived.
  • He was accused of shirking his duty as a citizen.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a person who shirks his work or duty (especially one who tries to evade military service in wartime)

Từ đồng nghĩa

• slacker