What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sluff
Example
The snake sluffed off its old skin. [sluffed: past tense]
Example
He always tries to sluff off his duties onto someone else. [sluff: verb]
shirk
Example
He was accused of shirking his responsibilities at work. [shirking: present participle]
Example
She always finds ways to shirk her chores around the house. [shirk: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shirk is more commonly used than sluff in everyday language, especially in British English. Shirk is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while sluff is less common and has a more specific usage.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between sluff and shirk?
Shirk is generally considered more formal than sluff, and is often used in professional or academic settings. Sluff is more informal and is often used in casual conversations or in regional dialects.
