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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

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

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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

I do not feel hard toward goldbrick men and "blue sky" venders.

From The University of Hard Knocks by Ralph Parlette

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