goldbrick

American  

[gohld-brik, gohld-brik] / ˈgoʊldˈbrɪk, ˈgoʊldˌbrɪk /

noun

1. Informal. a brick made to look like gold, sold by a swindler.

2. Informal. anything supposed to be valuable but which turns out to be worthless.

3. Slang. Also goldbricker a person, especially a soldier, who shirks responsibility or performs duties without proper effort or care.

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verb (used without object)

Slang.

1. to shirk responsibility or perform halfheartedly; loaf.

verb (used with object)

1. to swindle; cheat.

Etymology

Origin of goldbrick

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; gold + brick

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

goldbrick

To U.S. soldiers, "Sad Sack" is the funniest little lug who ever got a typhus shot or tried to goldbrick out of a duty.

From Time Magazine Archive

In spite of his rare protective talents as a chowhound and goldbrick, Lanza's throat was so raw with Texas dust that he could not sing.

From Time Magazine Archive

Andy Sheaffer, the hero, is a goldbrick long before he gets to the induction center.

From Time Magazine Archive

There was one more anxious moment when it looked as if Colonel Ruppert might have bought a $75,000 goldbrick.

From Time Magazine Archive

True enough, assignments do not all have the same level of work requirement, and one is sometimes handed a wide open opportunity to goldbrick.

From The Armed Forces Officer Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-2 by United States. Dept. of Defense

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