layabout

[ley-uh-bout]

noun

Chiefly British.

1. a lazy or idle person; loafer.

layabout

/ ˈleɪəˌbaʊt /

noun

1. a lazy person; loafer

verb

1. old-fashioned,  (preposition, usually intr or reflexive) to hit out with violent and repeated blows in all directions

Word History and Origins

Origin of layabout¹

1930–35; noun use of verb phrase lay about, nonstandard variant of lie about

Example Sentences

The Republican theme was that the rolls were brimming with malingerers, layabouts and fraudsters devoted to ripping off the taxpayers.

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First, they underline how all the hand-wringing from Republicans about lazy layabouts collecting Medicaid and food stamps instead of working is balderdash.

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It’s one thing to cheer the firing of federal employees if you consider them a bunch of slothful layabouts.

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Republicans consistently slander disability recipients as malingerers and layabouts.

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Sir Rod told Walker he had "propelled the careers of a bunch of unknown layabouts to the top of the charts, and overnight fame and everything that goes with it".

Read more on BBC