do-nothing

do-noth·ing

(do͞o′nŭth′ĭng) Informal

adj.

Offering no initiative for change, especially in politics.

n.

An idle or lazy person.

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do′-noth′ing·ism 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.

do′-noth`ing

(du)

n.

1. a lazy or shiftless person.

adj.

2. characterized by inability or unwillingness to assume responsibility, work toward a goal, or the like.

[1570–80]

do′-noth`ing•ism, n.

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

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	do-nothing - person who does no work; "a lazy bum" idler, layabout, loafer, bum nonworker - a person who does nothing clock watcher - a worker preoccupied with the arrival of quitting time couch potato - an idler who spends much time on a couch (usually watching television) dallier, dillydallier, dilly-dallier, lounger, mope - someone who wastes time dawdler, laggard, lagger, trailer, poke, drone - someone who takes more time than necessary; someone who lags behind daydreamer, woolgatherer - someone who indulges in idle or absentminded daydreaming good-for-naught, good-for-nothing, goof-off, ne'er-do-well, no-account, goldbrick - an idle worthless person lazybones - a lazy person lie-abed, slugabed - a person who stays in bed until a relatively late hour loon - a worthless lazy fellow shirker, slacker - a person who shirks his work or duty (especially one who tries to evade military service in wartime) sluggard, slug - an idle slothful person spiv - a person without employment who makes money by various dubious schemes; goes about smartly dressed and having a good time sunbather - someone who basks in the sunshine in order to get a suntan trifler - one who behaves lightly or not seriously whittler - someone who whittles (usually as an idle pastime)
Adj.	1.	do-nothing - characterized by inability or unwillingness to work toward a goal or assume responsibility; "a do-nothing government" irresponsible - showing lack of care for consequences; "behaved like an irresponsible idiot"; "hasty and irresponsible action"

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

do-nothing

adjective

Informal. Resistant to exertion and activity:

fainéant, idle, indolent, lazy, shiftless, slothful, sluggard, sluggish.

Idiom: bone lazy.

noun

Informal. A self-indulgent person who spends time avoiding work or other useful activity:

bum, drone, fainéant, good-for-nothing, idler, layabout, loafer, ne'er-do-well, no-good, slugabed, sluggard, wastrel.

Informal: do-little, lazybones, slug.

Slang: slouch.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

do-nothing

n → Faulenzer(in) m(f), → Nichtstuer(in) m(f)

adj → faul

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