Goldbricks

To 'goldbrick' means to avoid work or responsibility, especially by pretending to be busy or ill. It often implies a deliberate attempt to shirk duties and is frequently associated with laziness or a lack of commitment. This behavior is usually seen as a negative trait, particularly in work environments or other settings where cooperation and diligence are expected. The term suggests a deception, as the goldbricker is not genuinely contributing while appearing to do so. It highlights the contrast between the appearance of effort and the reality of minimal productivity.

Goldbricks meaning with examples

• During the project's crunch time, several team members were goldbricking, making it necessary for the project lead to reassign their tasks to more dependable staff to keep everything on track.
• The employee was known to goldbrick during meetings, pretending to take notes while secretly playing games on his phone, which drew the attention of HR.
• The students realized that some classmates were goldbricking during group projects, leading to unfair distribution of work and lower grades overall.
• Despite the constant pressure to meet deadlines, the intern tried to goldbrick by taking frequent, long breaks, leading to a poor review.
• The construction crew was constantly behind schedule, and the foreman suspected a few of his workers were goldbricking to collect unearned wages.