Lazybones

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈleɪziˌboʊnz/

Definitions

1. A person who is habitually idle, sluggish, or reluctant to exert effort or engage in activity
2. An individual known for their chronic lethargy and avoidance of exertion, showing a tendency to be inactive and reluctant to participate in any form of work or effort
3. Someone who consistently avoids physical or mental effort and prefers to remain inactive

Etymology: "Lazybones" is a plain compound: "lazy" joined to "bones," with the bones standing in for the whole body. The image is of a person so idle that their skeleton seems to be the only part of them doing any work, or rather, the part left lying around. The "-bones" element is a familiar English pattern for a person defined by a single trait or condition, as in "skinny-bones" and "dry-bones," so the word follows an established way of naming people by their frame. The point of the word is affection more than insult. Its tone is teasing and mildly reproachful, which is why it is so often said to children or to a sleepy friend on a Sunday morning. The word is for someone you could imagine sprawled across a sofa, not someone who is merely slow at a task.

Synonyms: sluggard, laggard, idler

Antonyms: hard worker, go-getter