GOOD-FOR-NOTHING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does good-for-nothing mean? 

• GOOD-FOR-NOTHING (noun)
  The noun GOOD-FOR-NOTHING has 1 sense:

1. an idle worthless person

  Familiarity information: GOOD-FOR-NOTHING used as a noun is very rare.

• GOOD-FOR-NOTHING (adjective)
  The adjective GOOD-FOR-NOTHING has 1 sense:

1. without merit; of little or no value or use

  Familiarity information: GOOD-FOR-NOTHING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GOOD-FOR-NOTHING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An idle worthless person

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

goldbrick; good-for-naught; good-for-nothing; goof-off; ne'er-do-well; no-account

Hypernyms ("good-for-nothing" is a kind of...):

bum; do-nothing; idler; layabout; loafer (person who does no work)

Derivation:

good-for-nothing (without merit; of little or no value or use)

• GOOD-FOR-NOTHING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Without merit; of little or no value or use

Synonyms:

good-for-naught; good-for-nothing; meritless; no-account; no-count; no-good; sorry

Context example:

the car was a no-good piece of junk

Similar:

worthless (lacking in usefulness or value)

Derivation:

good-for-nothing (an idle worthless person)

 Context examples 

“What does the good-for-nothing want in the parlour?” said they; “they who would eat bread should first earn it; away with the kitchen-maid!”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

He is to be married very soon—a good-for-nothing fellow!

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

That accounts, perhaps, for your marrying a good-for-nothing like me.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

That gentleman was depicted as an intelligent, dignified businessman who had no patience with his brother-in-law's socialistic views, and no patience with the brother-in-law, either, whom he was quoted as characterizing as a lazy good-for-nothing who wouldn't take a job when it was offered to him and who would go to jail yet.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“Out with you, you idle, good-for-nothing creatures!” cried they; “we cannot find food for you any longer; you are big enough, and can provide for yourselves.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

She was kind, but not in the right way, and it's lucky for her she didn't love me, if I'm the good-for-nothing fellow you think me.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She wished with all her heart Combe Magna was not so near Cleveland; but it did not signify, for it was a great deal too far off to visit; she hated him so much that she was resolved never to mention his name again, and she should tell everybody she saw, how good-for-nothing he was.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Take the good-for-nothing fellow out of our house.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I'll tell you all about it sometime, she never will, because after telling me that she despised and was ashamed of me, she lost her heart to the despicable party and married the good-for-nothing.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

In the middle of the fields the parson met them, and when he saw the procession he said: For shame, you good-for-nothing girls, why are you running across the fields after this young man?

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)