Superior Person's Tuesday!

Gold-Brick, To. v. To shirk hard work; to avoid one’s responsibilities. Thought to have originated in the army, as for example in the case of the inventively minded private who absents himself from parades for the day through the simple expedient of carrying a trash bin around camp and, if asked by an officer what he is doing, replies smartly: “Trash detail, sir!”

Dorothy was known to gold-brick in more ways than one.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Gold-brick appears in the Superior Person's Field Guide.