Sloth: A Dictionary for the Lazy (3 page)
Read Sloth: A Dictionary for the Lazy Online
Authors: Adams Media Corporation
Tags: #Dictionaries, #Reference
jaded
(JAY-did)
ADJECTIVE:
Bored with something or indifferent toward it because of overexposure or overindulgence.
Tired of working long hours with no reward, Sylvie’s attitude about her emplyoyer became more and more JADED as the days progressed.
(ji-JOON)
ADJECTIVE:
Immature or unsophisticated; sophomoric.
(JEL-ee)
NOUN:
Anything that has a soft, semisolid consistency.
(JOB-lis-nis)
NOUN:
Being without employment.
(JOY-lis)
ADJECTIVE:
Without cheer; unhappy.
kept
(kept)
ADJECTIVE:
Maintained and financed by another.
(KAY-bosh)
NOUN:
The act of putting a stop to something or ceasing an activity.
Simon quickly put the KIBOSH on any activity that required him to wake up early.
(kik uhp wuhnz feet)
VERB:
To relax.
(kip)
NOUN:
A British slang term meaning sleep or a place to sleep.
(NAK-erd)
ADJECTIVE:
A British slang term meaning extremely exhausted.
He that is busy it tempted by but one devil; he that is idle, by a legion.
—T
HOMAS
F
ULLER
lackadaisical
(lk-uh-DAY-zi-kuhl)
ADJECTIVE:
Lazy; unenthusiastic in one’s actions.
(LAK-luhs-ter)
ADJECTIVE:
Uninspiring; dull.
(lag)
VERB:
To fall behind; the move slower than the rest.
(LAG-erd)
NOUN OR ADJECTIVE:
Used as both a noun or adjective in reference to someone who cannot keep up.
(layd-BAK)
ADJECTIVE:
Having a carefree disposition; unhurried.
(les-ey-FAIR)
ADJECTIVE:
Refraining from interfering in others’ business.
She was a huge proponent of LAISSEZ-FAIRE parenting; if the children were in need or in trouble, they would figure it out for themselves.
(LAH-lee-gag)
VERB:
To waste time or loiter, often having fun while doing it.
(LANG-gwid)
NOUN:
An unhurried or leisurely manner.
His LANGUIDNESS made him unapologetically late to most social functions.
(LANG-ger)
NOUN:
Lacking in energy; listlessness, but often in a pleasant way.
(LAS-i-tood)
NOUN:
A state of listlessness or weariness; lethargy.
(laks)
ADJECTIVE:
Loose and not easily controlled; unmanageable.
(LAY-uh-bout)
NOUN:
A lazy or idle person; loafer.
(layz)
VERB:
To lounge around without worry.
On most days he would LAZE about the house, moving as little as possible before she came home from work.
(LAY-zee)
ADJECTIVE:
Reluctant to do work or exert any energy; idle.
(LAY-zee-bohnz)
NOUN:
An idler; someone with a severe lack of ambition.
(LED-n)
ADJECTIVE:
Sluggish; immovable; dark or gloomy.
(leech)
NOUN:
Someone who attaches him or herself to another person in the hope of some sort of personal gain; a bloodsucking worm.
It became apparent that Peter was a LEECH when he stopped working and stayed rent-free in Anna’s apartment without contributing to expenses.
Determine never to be idle… It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.
—T
HOMAS
J
EFFERSON
(LEE-zher-lee)
ADJECTIVE:
Acting in an unhurried manner.
(LETH-er-jee)
NOUN:
A state of drowsiness or dullness; listlessness.
(LAYE-doun)
NOUN:
A British phrase meaning a nap.
(LAYEF-lis)
ADJECTIVE:
Without life; lacking animation.
(limp)
ADJECTIVE:
Lacking firmness or energy.
(LING-ger)
VERB:
To remain in place for longer than would be expected; to hang back.
(LIST-lis)
ADJECTIVE:
Lethargic; lacking in energy.
(LOH-fer)
NOUN:
An idle person; someone who wastes time.
(lohth)
ADJECTIVE:
Unwilling to or wary of doing something.
Ivan was LOATH to do any real work and stood by watching while the rest of the volunteers shoveled snow.
(LOH-gee)
ADJECTIVE:
Sluggish and unenthusiastic.
(LOY-ter)
VERB:
To waste time or remain in one place without any specific purpose; dally.
(lol)
VERB:
To recline in a lazy fashion; lounge.
(LOL-ee-gag-er)
NOUN:
One who loiters or wastes time, often doing something more fun than what he or she should be doing.
(loo-bee)
NOUN:
An awkward, lazy person; lout.
When I called you a LOOBY, it was because you were trying so hard to avoid helping me move this furniture.
(LOH-tuhs ee-ter)
NOUN:
From Greek mythology,
lotus eater
has come to describe a daydreamer; someone who doesn’t quite live in reality.
(LOUN-jer)
NOUN:
A person who behaves in an extremely relaxed manner.
(lout)
NOUN:
A classless, ill-mannered individual; a hoodlum.
(LUHB-er)
NOUN:
An awkward, unintelligent person; looby.
(LUHM-uhks)
NOUN:
An unintelligent or dim-witted person.
Leonard was often called a LUMMOX when he was the last to get the joke.
(LUHM-pish)
ADJECTIVE:
Having a heavy, lumplike appearance; devoid of intelligence or vitality.
(lusk)
NOUN:
A loafer; idler.
malaise
(ma-LAYZ)
NOUN:
A feeling of worry, lethargy, or mental restlessness.
(muh-LING-gerer)
NOUN:
One who pretends to be sick or injured in order to avoid work.
When Terrence was discovered walking at home without a limp by one of his coworkers, it was clear he was a MALINGERER and should have been back at work weeks ago.
(MAWN-der)
VERB:
To ramble or speak in an incoherent manner or mumble; to behave in an aimless fashion.
(mee-AN-der)
VERB:
To follow an indirect, possibly winding path; to wander in a leisurely way.
(MEE-ning-lis)
ADJECTIVE:
Lacking meaning or purpose; insignificant.
Is sloppiness in speech caused by ignorance
or apathy?
I don’t know and
I don’t care.
—W
ILLIAM
S
AFIRE
(MAHY-kroh-sleep)
NOUN:
An instance of slumber that happens so quickly, it’s barely noticed by the sleeper; it’s something often associated with those suffering from narcolepsy or sleep deprivation.
(MID-l-uhv-thuh-rohd)
ADJECTIVE:
Taking a position in the middle of an argument; not taking sides.
(MILK-tohst)
ADJECTIVE:
Referencing comic strip character Caspar Milquetoast, someone described as being
milquetoast
is timid and unassertive.
(mooch)
VERB:
To sponge off of people with no intention of ever paying them back; as a noun, a
mooch
—or moocher—is the person who does the sponging.
Gerry’s attempt to MOOCH off of David was thwarted when he realized David had no money to support even himself.
(muh-NOT-n-uhs)
ADJECTIVE:
Boring or dull; literally,
monotonous
means of one tone.
(mohp)
VERB:
To sulk or brood; to be apathetic.
(mohps)
NOUN:
The doldrums; the blues.
(MAWR-uh-buhnd)
ADJECTIVE:
Dying; stagnant.
(MOH-zee)
VERB:
To amble along at a leisurely pace; saunter.
To ask Barbara to perform any task away from her desk meant watching her MOSEY from one end of the office to the other, taking as much time as possible.
(MOH-shuhn-lis)
ADJECTIVE:
Lacking motion; stationary.
(muhk uh-BOUT)
VERB:
To waste time or dally.
(muhn-DAYN)
ADJECTIVE:
Common or ordinary; workaday.
Going to the theater really has become MUNDANE; it rarely surprises me anymore.
nap
(nap)
VERB:
To sleep for a short period of time, usually during the day.
(nahr-KOH-sis)
NOUN:
A state of stupor or unconsciousness, often as a result of narcotics.
(NE-er-doo-wel)
NOUN:
An irresponsible loafer; good-for-nothing.
(NEB-yuh-luhs)
ADJECTIVE:
Something that is vague or confused; cloudy.
Asking Grace a question before she was awake meant the answer would be NEBULOUS and nearly impossible to follow.
(ni-GLEKT-fuhl)
ADJECTIVE:
Careless; forgetful regarding one’s duties or responsibilities.
(NEG-li-juhnt)
ADJECTIVE:
Acting in a careless, inattentive fashion.
(NEG-li-juh-buhl)
ADJECTIVE:
A small, insignificant amount.
(ni-PEN-thee)
NOUN:
A drug or substance that causes a temporary relief from one’s pain or problems.
(NESH-ee-uhns)
NOUN:
Lack of knowledge; ignorance.
Your NESCIENCE on the subject is quite appalling, considering how much you are paid to teach it!
(NOO-truhl)
ADJECTIVE:
Not favoring any particular side in an argument or dispute; impartial.
Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all—the apathy of human beings.
—H
ELEN
K
ELLER
(NOH-good)
ADJECTIVE:
Lacking in positive virtues; worthless.
(nok-TAM-byuh-liz-uhm)
NOUN:
One who sleepwalks; somnambulist.
Edward was a known NOCTAMBULIST and would sometimes go about his morning routine or prepare a meal while completely asleep.
(NOD-ding)
ADJECTIVE:
Something that bends downward; sleepy.
(non-shuh-LAHNS)
NOUN:
Lack of concern; casualness.
(non-EN-ti-tee)
NOUN:
Someone or thing that is nonexistent or so insignificant that its presence does not matter.
(non-in-ter-FEER-uhns)
NOUN:
Staying out of any part of a dispute,
noninterference
is often used in discussing political matters.
(NOO-guh-tawr-ee)
ADJECTIVE:
Of no value; insignificant.