Malinger
Verb
Definition: To pretend or exaggerate illness or injury in order to avoid work or duty.
Synonyms: Feign illness, Shirk, Pretend, Fake
Antonyms: Fulfill, Perform, Carry out
- He malingered a back injury to avoid his military duty.
- The employee was caught malingering by his supervisor.
- "Malingering" sounds like "linger," which means to stay or remain longer than necessary. The person who malingers is staying away from their duty longer than necessary by pretending to be ill or injured.
Etymology:
The word "malinger" originated in the mid-18th century from the French word "malingre" meaning "sickly" or "ailing."
Historical Usage:"Malinger" has been in use since the 18th century to describe the act of feigning illness or injury. Its usage has remained relatively constant over time.
Related Idioms:
"Malingering under the radar"
Explanation:This phrase refers to the act of faking an illness or injury without attracting suspicion or detection.
Misconceptions:
Confusing "malinger" with "malign"
Explanation:"Malinger" and "malign" are two different words with distinct meanings. "Malinger" means to fake illness or injury, while "malign" means to speak ill of someone or to have an evil intent towards them.