time bandit
1
8.3
- noun
- Offensive
:
ladrón de tiempo
- My coworker is such a time bandit!
Examples
-
Social media often acts as a time bandit when I'm trying to focus on studying.
-
The constant notifications from my phone became a huge time bandit during my workday.
-
She realized that chatting with coworkers was her main time bandit in the office.
-
These time bandits always distract me from my tasks.
-
The meeting was filled with time bandits who kept interrupting my presentation.
-
I had to leave the coffee shop because a time bandit wouldn't stop talking to me.
-
He is such a time bandit; he always distracts me when I try to focus on my work.
Synonyms
6
7.2
A person who spends money or time carelessly on unimportant things
2
8.6
A person who avoids work and wastes time
1
6.5
Something that wastes your time and stops you doing useful work
1
9.9
A person who wastes time and does no real work
1
7.1
A person who moves slowly and wastes time
1
9.5
A person who wastes time and does not make decisions or take action
Something that wastes a lot of your time
A person who wastes time or money on unimportant things
A person who wastes time on small unimportant tasks instead of doing useful work
A person who spends money or time carelessly on things they do not need
A person who wastes time by being slow to act or decide
How Time-Wasting
- Informal
- Offensive
1
8.3
126
2.7
234
2.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
time + bandit
The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'time' (the resource) with 'bandit' (a robber) — i.e. someone who 'steals' or wastes your time. This metaphorical compounding is transparent and follows a productive English pattern (and similar metaphors exist in other languages), so a B1 learner who knows both words should readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Time bandit gives a clear picture: a bandit, a thief, stealing time, like a small thief taking minutes away with distractions. That's why it means 'someone or something that keeps wasting your time'.