gold-brick

gold-brick
   American
   a shirker
   A common 19th-century trick was known as the gold brick swindle, whereby prospectors sought to sell base metal to the unwary by its colour. Whence trickery of any kind, and then specifically those who feigned illness in the army to avoid duty:
    The gold brick swindle is an old one but crops up constantly. (National Police Gazette, 1881)
    Tarrant was the greatest goldbrick on the base. (Deighton, 1982)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • gold´brick´er — gold brick, Informal. anything that looks good at first but turns out to be worthless. gold|brick «GOHLD BRIHK», verb, noun. Informal. –v.i. 1. to avoid duties by any evasion or excuse, such as pretended illness: »The medics found that the airmen …   Useful english dictionary

  • gold|brick — gold brick, Informal. anything that looks good at first but turns out to be worthless. gold|brick «GOHLD BRIHK», verb, noun. Informal. –v.i. 1. to avoid duties by any evasion or excuse, such as pretended illness: »The medics found that the airmen …   Useful english dictionary

  • gold brick — noun 1. A block of gold or (orig US sl) of pretended gold, hence a sham or swindle 2. A person who shirks duties or responsibilities • • • Main Entry: ↑gold …   Useful english dictionary

  • gold brick — UK US noun [C] FINANCE ► GOLD BAR(Cf. ↑gold bar) …   Financial and business terms

  • gold-brick — gold brickˈ transitive verb • • • Main Entry: ↑gold …   Useful english dictionary

  • Gold brick (disambiguation) — The term gold brick or goldbrick can refer to:*A gold bar. *Goldbricking, or cyberslacking, is the usage of company internet activity while at work. * Gold Bricks , an album by Fuck. *Gold Brickers, an enemy group in the video game City of… …   Wikipedia

  • gold brick — v. avoid work; hide from a task or assignment. Stop gold bricking and get back to work …   English slang

  • Gold bar — Gold brick redirects here. For other uses, see Gold brick (disambiguation). A gold bar is a gold ingot which may be produced in many different types, weights and categories. Types Gold bars are classified into two different types cast and minted… …   Wikipedia

  • brick — brick; brick·field·er; brick·ie; brick·le; brick·low; gold·brick; brick·ly; …   English syllables

  • gold — gold; gold·berg·ian; gold·en·ness; gold·en·pert; gold·i·locks; gold·ish; gold·ite; gold·less; gold·schmidt·ine; gold·schmidt·ite; gold·schmidt s; gold·sin·ny; gold·smith; gold·smith·ery; gold·smith·ing; gold·spink; gold·wyn·ism; man·gold;… …   English syllables

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