sluggard

Everyday

1. (old, Bible) A sluggard is a very lazy person who does not want to work or get up. tree →
2. (humorous) Sluggard can be used jokingly for someone who sleeps late or moves slowly. tree →

In the lessons

Pupils meet it in the Bible's Book of Proverbs: «Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise» — the ant works hard and prepares, so we should too. In stories and joking talk, a sluggard lies in bed while others work. Phrases: «go to the ant, thou sluggard».

Examples

• «Go to the ant, you sluggard,» says the proverb. tree →
• Get out of bed, you sluggard! (joking) tree →
• The sluggard's garden was full of weeds. tree →
• The fable shows the hard-working ant and the sluggard grasshopper. tree →
• Proverbs warns that the sluggard will go hungry. tree →
• He was no sluggard; he worked from dawn to dusk. tree →
• His master one day, pretending to be angry and shaking his stick at him, said, “You wretched little sluggard! what shall I do to you? tree →

Note

Old-fashioned; today people say «lazybones» or «slacker». Related: «sluggish» (slow, without energy), «slug» (a slow, slimy animal). A sluggard is a person, not an animal.

In Jewish tradition

A lazy person, whom Proverbs mocks again and again.

Interpretation. Proverbs tells the sluggard to learn from the ant and gives his silly excuses, like a lion in the street. Tradition reads these as lessons in diligence and wisdom.

Examples

• How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? (Writings PRO.6.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise; (Writings PRO.6.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• The sluggard saith: 'There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets.' (Writings PRO.22.13, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Old-fashioned; today people say «lazybones» or «slacker». Related: «sluggish» (slow, without energy), «slug» (a slow, slimy animal). A sluggard is a person, not an animal.