time-server

A colleague quietly disapproves of the office time-server who avoids real work.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who adapts their opinions and actions to suit the prevailing circumstances, especially for personal advantage or to avoid trouble: A "time-server" is someone who opportunistically aligns with whatever is fashionable, popular, or powerful at the moment, rather than holding consistent principles.
   • A person who serves or works merely to gain personal benefit from the current situation: This meaning emphasizes self-serving behavior, often in a workplace or political context, where the individual prioritizes expediency over loyalty or integrity.

Usage Examples

• (An opportunist who adapts for personal gain.)
• (A person who changes opinions to suit the moment.)
• (Someone who avoids taking a stand.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be a time-server": to act as an opportunist who follows the prevailing trend.

  • In the corporate world, being a time-server may lead to short-term success but earns little respect. (Acting opportunistically for immediate advantage.)

• "time-serving" (adj): characterized by opportunism or self-serving adaptation.

  • His time-serving attitude made him unpopular among colleagues who valued integrity. (His opportunistic behavior.)

Variants and Related Words

• Time-serving (adj): relating to or characteristic of a time-server.

  • The time-serving politician changed his stance on taxes overnight. (Showing opportunism.)

• Time-pleaser (n): a synonym for time-server, emphasizing the desire to please others for personal gain.

  • She was a time-pleaser, always flattering the boss to get a promotion. (An alternative term for an opportunist.)

Synonyms

• Opportunist: a person who takes advantage of opportunities, often unscrupulously.
• Trimmer: a person who adapts their views to suit the prevailing mood, especially in politics.
• Fence-sitter: someone who avoids taking sides to maintain personal advantage.
• Weathercock: a person who changes their opinions easily, like a weather vane.

Idioms

• To go with the flow: to adapt to whatever is happening, often without strong personal conviction.

  • He's a time-server who just goes with the flow to avoid conflict. (He adapts passively.)

• To blow with the wind: to change one's opinions or actions based on external influences.

  • A time-server blows with the wind, never committing to a steady course. (He changes direction easily.)

Related Idioms (Specific to Time-Server)

• To trim one's sails: to adjust one's behavior or opinions to suit the circumstances.

  • The time-server trimmed his sails to match the new company policy. (He adapted opportunistically.)

• To sit on the fence: to avoid taking a side in a dispute.

  • A time-server often sits on the fence until the winner is clear. (He waits to see which side is advantageous.)