bludger

Everyday

1. (Australia, NZ, slang) A lazy person who avoids work or lets others do it, or someone who lives on other people's money. tree →
2. In the Harry Potter books, a Bludger is a heavy ball in the game of Quidditch that flies around trying to knock players off their brooms. tree →

In the lessons

In Australian and New Zealand everyday talk, «bludger» is a mildly insulting slang word; «dole bludger» is a rude name for someone on unemployment money. Verb «bludge»: to slack off, and «a bludge» is an easy task. For many children it is first known from Harry Potter.

Examples

• Get up and help, you bludger! (Australia, slang) tree →
• He's a bit of a bludger, he never washes up. tree →
• P.E. today was a total bludge. (Australia, slang) tree →
• The Bludger nearly knocked Harry off his broom. tree →
• Beaters hit the Bludgers away from their team. tree →
• Don't be a bludger, do your share of the project. tree →

Note

Countable: a bludger, bludgers. Slang and rude-ish, mostly Australia and NZ; not used in formal writing. Calling someone a «dole bludger» is unkind and unfair to people who need help. In Harry Potter it is written with a capital B.