goldbrick
UK[ˈɡəʊldbrɪk]US[ˈɡoʊldbrɪk]
v
to avoid work or duty by pretending to be ill or otherwise incapable
n
a person who shirks their duties or work
Morpheme Breakdown
gold
brick
gold
brick
Etymology
the term "goldbrick" originated in 19th-century american english, initially referring to a brick that was fraudulently sold as solid gold but was merely gold-plated. this literal sense of a deceptive object, appearing valuable but being worthless, provided a powerful metaphor. by the early 20th century, the term evolved to describe a person who shirks duty, likening the act of avoiding work to passing off something fake as genuine. the logic connects the core idea of a sham or fraud from the original swindle to the modern abstract meaning of feigning incapacity to evade responsibility.
Analysis
Structure: gold + brick
gold (old english, meaning the precious metal gold); brick (middle low german or middle dutch, meaning a block of baked clay)
Examples
he tried to goldbrick his way out of the difficult assignment by claiming a sudden migraine.
the sergeant warned the new recruits not to goldbrick during basic training.
she was known as a goldbrick in the office, always finding excuses to leave early.