lazybones

Everyday

(informal) A lazybones is a lazy person, someone who does not want to get up or do any work; it is usually a playful, joking word. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday family life a parent might call «Get up, lazybones!» on a school morning. In stories it is a friendly tease, not a serious insult. Phrases: «come on, lazybones», «you lazybones».

Examples

• «Wake up, lazybones, it's nearly nine!» called Mum. tree →
• The cat is a real lazybones; it sleeps all day. tree →
• Don't be a lazybones; help me carry the shopping. tree →
• Grandad called us lazybones when we stayed in bed. tree →
• Our dog is a lazybones on hot afternoons. tree →
• «Who's the lazybones who left the dishes?» tree →
• Next day the lazybones went to church. tree →

Note

Informal and playful. Singular and plural are both «lazybones» («he is a lazybones», «they are lazybones»). One word. Calling someone lazy for real can hurt, so it depends on tone.