goldbrick

[gohld-brik for 1, 2; gohld-brik for 3–5] /ˈgoʊldˈbrɪk for 1, 2; ˈgoʊldˌbrɪk for 3–5/
noun
1.
Informal. a brick made to look like gold, sold by a swindler.
2.
Informal. anything supposed to be valuable but which turns out to be worthless.
3.
Also, goldbricker. Slang. a person, especially a soldier, who shirks responsibility or performs duties without proper effort or care.
verb (used without object), Slang.
4.
to shirk responsibility or perform halfheartedly; loaf.
verb (used with object)
5.
to swindle; cheat.
Origin
1850-55, Americanism; gold + brick
Word Origin and History for goldbrick
n.

"shirker," 1914, World War I armed forces slang, from earlier verb meaning "to swindle, cheat" (1902) from the old con game of selling spurious "gold" bricks (attested by 1882).

Slang definitions & phrases for goldbrick

goldbrick

noun

(also goldbricker) A shirker; a person who avoids work or duty; goof-off (WWI armed forces)

verb
  1. : She made him promise to quit goldbricking
  2. To swindle; cheat; con (1902+)

[fr the convention of the confidence trickster who sells spurious gold bricks]