goldbrick

[ gohld-brik gohld-brik ]

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

verb (used without object)

, Slang.

1. to shirk responsibility or perform halfheartedly; loaf.

verb (used with object)

1. to swindle; cheat.

Word History and Origins

Origin of goldbrick¹

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