goldbrick Definition
- 1a person who shirks responsibility or work
- 2something that appears valuable but is actually worthless
Using goldbrick: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "goldbrick" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He's always been a goldbrick, avoiding any kind of work he can.
Example
Don't be fooled by his promises, it's just another goldbrick.
Example
The new employee turned out to be a goldbrick, leaving all the work to others.
goldbrick Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with goldbrick
Example
He goldbricked his way through the day, pretending to be busy.
Example
The sergeant was furious when he found out that one of his men was a goldbrick soldier.
a game in which the object is to deceive others into believing that a worthless object is valuable
Example
The auction turned out to be a goldbrick game, with all the items being fake.
Origins of goldbrick
from the practice of covering a brick with gold paint to make it appear valuable
Summary: goldbrick in Brief
'Goldbrick' [ˈɡəʊlˌbrɪk] refers to a person who avoids work or responsibility, or something that appears valuable but is actually worthless. It is often used to describe someone who shirks their duties, as in 'He's always been a goldbrick, avoiding any kind of work he can.' The term also extends to phrases like 'goldbrick verb,' meaning to avoid work, and 'goldbrick soldier,' referring to a soldier who avoids combat duty by feigning illness or injury.