layabout

[ley-uh-bout]

noun

Chiefly British.

1. a lazy or idle person; loafer.

layabout

/ ˈleɪəˌbaʊt /

noun

1. a lazy person; loafer

verb

1. old-fashioned,  (preposition, usually intr or reflexive) to hit out with violent and repeated blows in all directions

Word History and Origins

Origin of layabout¹

1930–35; noun use of verb phrase lay about, nonstandard variant of lie about

Example Sentences

First, they underline how all the hand-wringing from Republicans about lazy layabouts collecting Medicaid and food stamps instead of working is balderdash.

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It’s one thing to cheer the firing of federal employees if you consider them a bunch of slothful layabouts.

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Republicans consistently slander disability recipients as malingerers and layabouts.

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Sir Rod told Walker he had "propelled the careers of a bunch of unknown layabouts to the top of the charts, and overnight fame and everything that goes with it".

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Katie sees Rachel as little more than a useless layabout waiting to claim the apartment, even though Rachel had been the live-in caregiver before things turned.

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