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ne'er-do-well

noun
/ˈnɛə.duˌwɛl/UK/ˈnɛɹ.duˌwɛl/US

Etymology

From the phrase never do well. "Ne'er-do-well" is a contracted compound word stemming from the combination of the words "never do well." “Never-do-well” is sometimes used as an offhand, expanded version of the phrase, where “never” is not contracted. The usage of this version is often attributed to the northeastern United States.

Definitions

  1. A person without a means of support

    A person without a means of support; an idle, worthless person; a loafer; a person who is ineffectual, unsuccessful, or completely lacking in merit; a good-for-nothing.

    • So they have trooped forth to organize village down-and-outs and ne'er-do-wells into would-be combat units.
    • Clara's father, a trollish ne'er-do-well who spent most of his time in brothels and saloons, would disappear for days and weeks at a stretch, leaving Clara and her mother to fend for themselves.

  2. A person who is up to no good

    A person who is up to no good; a rogue.

  3. Showing the characteristics of a ne'er-do-well

    Showing the characteristics of a ne'er-do-well: indolent, worthless, or roguish.

    • Think of the scorn with which Nicholas Nicklebys Madame Mantalini treats her ne'er-do-well' husband from whom she insists "on being separated and left to myself...."

The neighborhood

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sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA