boondoggle

boon·dog·gle

 (bo͞on′dô′gəl, -dŏg′əl) Informal

n.

1. An unnecessary or wasteful project or activity.

2.

a. A braided leather cord worn as a decoration especially by Boy Scouts.

b. A cord of braided leather, fabric, or plastic strips made by a child as a project to keep busy.

intr.v. boon·dog·gled, boon·dog·gling, boon·dog·gles

To waste time or money on a boondoggle.

---

[Coined before 1929 by Robert H. Link, American Eagle Scout, as a name for a braided leather decoration, perhaps on the model of earlier woggle, Boy Scout's braided leather neckerchief fastener in the shape of a Turk's-head, or toggle. Sense 1, from a public controversy that emerged in 1935 after New Deal funds were used to provide instruction for the unemployed in handicrafts such as leather braiding.]

---

boon′dog′gler n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

boondoggle

(ˈbuːnˌdɒɡəl)

vb

(intr) to do futile and unnecessary work

n

a futile and unnecessary project or work

[C20: said to have been coined by R. H. Link, American scoutmaster]

ˈboonˌdoggler n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

boon•dog•gle

(ˈbunˌdɒg əl, -ˌdɔ gəl)

n., v. -gled, -gling. n.

1. work of little or no value done merely to keep or look busy.

2. a project funded by the federal government out of political favoritism that is of no real value to the community or the nation.

3. a plaited leather cord for the neck made typically by a camper or a scout.

v.t.

4. to deceive or attempt to deceive.

v.i.

5. to do work of little value merely to keep or look busy.

[1930–35, Amer.]

boon′dog`gler, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

boondoggle

Past participle: boondoggled
Gerund: boondoggling

Imperative

boondoggle

boondoggle

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	boondoggle - work of little or no value done merely to look busy waste, wastefulness, dissipation - useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly; "if the effort brings no compensating gain it is a waste"; "mindless dissipation of natural resources"
Verb	1.	boondoggle - do useless, wasteful, or trivial work work - exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity; "I will work hard to improve my grades"; "she worked hard for better living conditions for the poor"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

boondoggle

[ˈbuːndɒgl] VI (US) → enredar

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

boondoggle

(US inf)

vi → auf Staatskosten Zeit und Geld verplempern (inf)

n → Zeitverschwendung f → or Kleinkrämerei f → auf Staatskosten

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007