lazybones

3 7.2

A person who avoids work and prefers to rest

noun
/ˈleɪziˌboʊnz/

Offensive

: holgazán

Stop being a lazybones and get to work on your assignments!

Examples

Whenever we have a project due, Mike just sits around like a lazybones instead of helping.
- "Lazybones"?

Death on the Nile (1978)
He always asks others to do his chores because he's such a lazybones.

Synonyms

slacker

vslazybones

Offensive

19 4.6

A person who avoids work and often does very little

is a casual, often friendlier way to name habitual avoidance of work

slug

vslazybones

Offensive

18 7.0

A person who is lazy and does not want to work

is a more casual, lighthearted name for that same habitual slowness

couch potato

vslazybones

Informal

13 4.3

A person who sits or lies down a lot, usually watching television

is more general, including many ways of avoiding work beyond sitting still

ne'er-do-well

vslazybones

Offensive

8 9.9

A person who is lazy, irresponsible, and does not try to succeed

focuses on habitual laziness rather than broader failure or irresponsibility

procrastinator

vslazybones

7 4.6

A person who often puts off work until the last minute

is broader, covering avoiding work not only by putting tasks off

layabout

vslazybones

Offensive

4 7.6

A person who often avoids work and does very little

is the more informal, conversational way to name persistent idleness

loafer

vslazybones

Offensive

4 5.8

A person who avoids work and does very little

is a more playful or teasing way to describe that same behaviour

good-for-nothing

vslazybones

Offensive

3 7.1

A person who is lazy and does nothing useful

is less judgmental and more playful than this harsher condemnatory term

goof-off

vslazybones

Informal

3 8.6

A person who avoids work and wastes time

is broader and can include simple laziness, not just time-wasting avoidance

do-nothing

vslazybones

Offensive

1 7.0

A person who avoids work and makes little effort

is a less moralizing, more colloquial label for the same lack of work

idler

vslazybones

Offensive

1 7.0

A person who avoids work and does very little

is the informal, slightly playful label for the same habitual avoidance

lounger

vslazybones

1 5.8

A person who often rests and does very little

is the everyday slang variant used more commonly in modern speech

sluggard

vslazybones

Offensive

1 9.9

A person who often avoids work and is lazy

is the informal, everyday term rather than the more formal label

bludger

vslazybones

Offensive

1 9.9

A person who avoids work and does very little

is a more neutral, everyday term rather than this regional slang

drag-ass

vslazybones

Offensive

1 9.9

A person who is lazy and slow to do things

is a milder, less insulting way to name habitual avoidance of work

piddler

vslazybones

Informal

1 9.7

A person who wastes time on small unimportant tasks instead of doing useful work

covers general avoidance rather than specifically wasting time on small tasks

lusk

vslazybones

Offensive

9.9

A person who is lazy and avoids work

is the common modern, informal label rather than this archaic form

no-good slacker

vslazybones

Offensive

8.4

A person who is very lazy and not responsible

is less moralistic and usually used more playfully or teasingly

slack Alice

vslazybones

Offensive

9.9

A person who is often lazy and late finishing tasks

is more neutral and playful, not stressing carelessness or unreliability

lazy fat-ass

vslazybones

Offensive

9.9

A rude name for someone seen as lazy and very overweight

is a mild, non-offensive term for habitual avoidance of work

Antonyms

hard worker

38 1.3

A person who puts a lot of effort into their job or tasks

go-getter

18 5.0

A person who is active and tries hard to succeed, especially at work

How Lazy

sluggard

Offensive

1 9.9

lazybones

Offensive

3 7.2

slacker

Offensive

19 4.6

idler

Offensive

1 7.0

Surface Forms

lazybones singular

lazybones plural

Morphology

lazybones = lazy + bones (transparent) = lazy + bones

A learner who knows 'lazy' will readily infer 'lazybones' refers to a lazy person; 'bones' here is a formative element rather than contributing a literal meaning.

Etymology

Lazybones is a funny mix of lazy ('not willing to work') and bones ('the body' or a person). It imagines someone's 'bones' are too lazy to move, so lazybones is a joking name for a person who avoids work.