Dictionary.com

goldbrick

[ gohld-brik for 1, 2; gohld-brik for 3-5 ]
/ ˈgoʊldˈbrɪk for 1, 2; ˈgoʊldˌbrɪk for 3-5 /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for goldbrick on Thesaurus.com

noun

Informal. a brick made to look like gold, sold by a swindler.
Informal. anything supposed to be valuable but which turns out to be worthless.
Also goldbricker .Slang. a person, especially a soldier, who shirks responsibility or performs duties without proper effort or care.

verb (used without object) Slang.

to shirk responsibility or perform halfheartedly; loaf.

verb (used with object)

to swindle; cheat.

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
The Sunflower State
The Evergreen State
The Magnolia State
The Mockingbird State
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of goldbrick

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

Words nearby goldbrick

Goldbergian, Goldberg, Rube, Goldblatt kidney, Goldblatt phenomenon, gold bond, goldbrick, gold bronze, goldbug, gold bullion standard, gold card, gold certificate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to goldbrick

pussyfoot, loaf, fence, cheat, sidestep, elude, slip, duck, creep, quit, lounge, shirk, dodge, slink, eschew, lurk, parry, malinger, bum, shun

British Dictionary definitions for goldbrick

gold brick

noun

something with only a superficial appearance of value
US slang an idler or shirker
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
See Today's Synonym