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idler

[/ˈaɪdlər/]
nounpl: idlers
ocioso, preguiçoso
1. a person who idles; someone who spends time doing nothing or avoiding work
He was dismissed from his job for being an idler.
Ele foi demitido do trabalho por ser um ocioso.
2. a wheel or pulley that rotates freely without driving anything
The idler wheel keeps the belt tight in the machine.
A roda ociosa mantém a correia tensionada na máquina.
3. something that idles or runs without producing work
The engine ran as an idler at a low RPM.
O motor funcionava ociosamente em baixa rotação.
NYC Slang
bum, deadbeat, loafer
Synonyms
loaferlazy personsluggardslackervagabond
Antonyms
workerlaborerindustrious persongo-getter

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ocioso, vagabundo
most common term for a lazy or unemployed person
Rio de Janeiro
preguiçoso, malandrete
informal, sometimes with criminal connotation
São Paulo
encostado, desocupado
colloquial term for unemployed or idle person
Portugal
vadio, preguiçoso
more formal usage, sometimes with negative social connotation

Related Idioms & Phrases

the devil finds work for idle hands
an idle mind is the devil's workshop
idle away the hours
run idle
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