goof-off

[goof-awf, -of] /ˈgufˌɔf, -ˌɒf/
noun, Slang.
1.
a person who habitually shirks work or responsibility; idler.
Origin
1950-55; noun use of verb phrase goof off

goof

[goof] /guf/
verb (used without object)
1.
to blunder; make an error, misjudgment, etc.
2.
to waste or kill time; evade work or responsibility (often followed by off or around):
Exam week is not a time to goof off. We goofed around till train time.
verb (used with object)
3.
to spoil or make a mess of (something); botch; bungle (often followed by up):
You really goofed up the job.
noun
4.
a foolish or stupid person.
5.
a mistake or blunder, especially one due to carelessness.
6.
a source of fun or cause for amusement:
We short-sheeted his bunk just for a goof.
Verb phrases
7.
goof on, Slang. to tease, ridicule, or mock; make fun of.
Origin
1915-20; apparently variant of obsolete goff dolt < Middle French goffe awkward, stupid
British Dictionary definitions for goof off

goof

/ɡuːf/
noun
1.
a foolish error or mistake
2.
a stupid person
verb
3.
to bungle (something); botch
4.
(intransitive; often foll by about or around) to fool (around); mess (about)
5.
(transitive) to dope with drugs
6.
(US & Canadian) (intransitive) often foll by off. to waste time; idle
Word Origin
C20: probably from (dialect) goff simpleton, from Old French goffe clumsy, from Italian goffo, of obscure origin
Word Origin and History for goof off

goof

n.

1916, American English, "stupid person," perhaps a variant of English dialect goff "foolish clown" (1869), from 16c. goffe, probably from Middle French goffe "awkward, stupid," of uncertain origin. Or English goffe may be from Middle English goffen "speak in a frivolous manner," possibly from Old English gegaf "buffoonery," and gaffetung "scolding." Sense of "a blunder" is c.1954, probably influenced by gaffe.

v.

"waste time," 1932; "make a mistake," 1941, from goof (n.). Goof off "loaf" is also from 1941. Related: Goofed; goofing.

Slang definitions & phrases for goof off

goof off

verb phrase

To pass one's time idly and pleasantly; potter about; shirk duty; goof around: My goofing off in the final period had knocked down a possible A average/ Are you trying to tell me my son is goofing off? (WWII armed forces)


goof

noun
  1. A stupid person; boob, klutz, sap: two goofs can't agree on how many orgasms they should have/ High school girls now talk of the ''goofs we go with'' (1916+)
  2. An insane person; mental case: He couldn't have acted more like a goof (1940s+)
  3. One's cellmate (1930s+ Prison)
  4. A blunder; bad mistake; boo-boo: They covered their goof quite well (1950s+ Jive talk)
verb
  1. : You goofed again; it's a one-way street (1941+)
  2. To pass one's time idly and pleasantly; goof off: In Sarajevo, members of a student volunteer brigade goofed and joked as they worked (1932+)
  3. goof around (1940s+)
  4. To fool; kid: Don't goof your grandpa (1940s+)

[fr British dialect goof, goff, ''fool'']


goof-off

noun
  1. A person who regularly or chronically avoids work; fuck-off: getting kicked out of seminary as a goof-off
  2. A period of relaxation; respite: A little goof-off will do you good (WWII armed forces)