How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. R. W. Holder. 2014.
swing the lead — If you swing the lead, you pretend to be ill or do not do your share of the work … The small dictionary of idiomes
swing the lead — ► swing the lead Brit. informal shirk one s duty. [ORIGIN: with nautical allusion to using a lead to ascertain the depth of water.] Main Entry: ↑swing … English terms dictionary
swing the lead — phrasal Etymology: fr. the feeling that the task of sounding with the lead is a comparatively light assignment for a sailor Britain : malinger * * * swing the lead (nautical and milit sl) To invent specious excuses to evade duties • • • Main… … Useful english dictionary
swing the lead Brit. — swing the lead Brit. informal malinger; shirk one s duty. [with naut. allusion to using a lead to ascertain the depth of water.] → swing … English new terms dictionary
swing the lead — verb To pretend to be unwell so that you do not have to work. John phoned in sick, but I think he is just swinging the lead. He probably wants to watch the tennis final on TV … Wiktionary
swing the lead — British & Australian, old fashioned to pretend to be ill so that you do not have to work. And is she genuinely ill or is she just swinging the lead? (usually in continuous tenses) … New idioms dictionary
swing the lead — Vrb phrs. To waste time, to shirk one s duties. E.g. Come on Mark, stop swinging the lead, there s work to do … English slang and colloquialisms
Swing the lead — be idle when there is work to be done … Dictionary of Australian slang
swing the lead — Australian Slang be idle when there is work to be done … English dialects glossary
swing the lead — 1. Avoid work. 2. Boast … A concise dictionary of English slang
