slacker

/'slækə/

Thân thiện

A student who is a slacker sleeps through his morning alarm.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who avoids work or effort; an idler: A "slacker" is someone who is habitually lazy or neglects their responsibilities, often by avoiding tasks they are expected to do.
   • A person who evades duty, especially military service: Historically, the term specifically referred to someone who tried to avoid compulsory military service, particularly during wartime.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • He was labeled a slacker by his manager for consistently missing deadlines.
  • During the war, the government sought to punish slackers who dodged the draft.
  • Don't be such a slacker; help us clean up the kitchen.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• The term often carries a strong negative connotation of moral failing or social irresponsibility, implying a deliberate choice to avoid work or duty.
• In modern informal contexts, it can be used more lightly among peers to tease someone for being momentarily lazy or unproductive.
  • "I was a total slacker this weekend and just watched TV."

Variants and Related Words

• Slack (verb): To be lazy or negligent; to avoid work. (e.g., )
• Slack (adjective): Not tight or tense; loose. (e.g., ). Figuratively, it can mean lacking in activity or diligence (e.g., ).
• Slackness (noun): The quality or state of being slack, negligent, or lazy.

Synonyms

• Idler
• Loafer
• Shirker
• Layabout (chiefly British)
• Deadbeat (informal, also implies failing to pay debts)

Antonyms

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

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Slack off (phrasal verb): To decrease one's effort or level of activity; to be lazy.
  • He started to slack off once the supervisor left the room.
• Cut someone some slack (idiom): To treat someone less severely or critically; to give them a break.
  • Cut him some slack; he's new to the job. (Note: This idiom uses "slack" in its noun form meaning "leeway," not directly referring to a "slacker.")

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

• shirker