ne'er-do-well
/ˈnɪərˌduːˈwɛl/ · neʼer.do.well
noun
- A person who consistently fails to achieve success or behave well. He was known as a ne'er-do-well in his community for his lack of ambition and poor work ethic.
- A person who is idle or lazy. The ne'er-do-well spent most of his days lounging on the couch, watching TV, and playing video games.
adjective
- Lacking in effort or achievement. The ne'er-do-well student struggled to keep up with his coursework due to his lack of motivation.
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Did you know? The phrase 'ne'er-do-well' has been used in literature, such as in Charles Dickens' novel 'Oliver Twist,' to describe the character of the Artful Dodger, who is a charming but idle young pickpocket.