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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

goldbrick

But in his prime, in the dim, goldbrick, 0.

From Time Magazine Archive

For $100 to $500 per employee, handwriting analysts will assess at least 20 different cursive characteristics and advise the prospective employer about the chances of a person's being a future embezzler or goldbrick.

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

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