slouch en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈslʌʊ̯t͡ʃ/ Canada, Canadian raising
- [ˈslaʊ̯t͡ʃ] (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈslaːt͡ʃ/ Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization
- [ˈslaːt͡ʃ] Pittsburgh, General South African, /aʊ̯/-monophthongization
- /ˈslɐʊ̯t͡ʃ/ Canada, Canadian raising
- [ˈslæʊ̯t͡ʃ] Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand, /aʊ̯/-fronting
- (US) audio
- /ˈsləʊ̯t͡ʃ/ Canada, Canadian raising
- /ˈslaʊ̯t͡ʃ/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈslɜʊ̯t͡ʃ/ Canada, Canadian raising
- /ˈslæʊ̯t͡ʃ/ Southern US, Midland US, Mid-Atlantic US, New York City, Australia, New Zealand, /aʊ̯/-fronting
Etymology
Unclear. Perhaps from Middle English slugge, from Old Norse slókr (“lazy fellow”). See also Swedish sloka (“to slouch, wilt”), related to Swedish slak (“slack, soft and flexible”) and Latin laxus (“loose, slack”).
Meanings
-
A hanging down of the head; a drooping posture; a limp appearance.
He sat with an unenthusiastic slouch.
-
Any depression or hanging down, as of a hat brim.
The plant hung in a permanent slouch.
-
Someone who is slow to act.
Its Rotten Tomatoes score — 97 percent — is similar to that of “The Godfather” and “Schindler’s List.” Plus, unlike those latter two slouches, this cartoon has singalong screenings in the United States, Britain and Australia.
2025 August 16, Euny Hong, “‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Is My Kind of Globalism”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:In any case, Scotland has been no slouch at national invention. The Greek temple to commemorate James Thomson wasn’t the only monument raised by the 11th Earl of Buchan, who was a friend and neighbour of Walter Scott, and as great a romancer in his obsession with ruins, battlements and fancy dress.
2014 September 16, Ian Jack, “Is this the end of Britishness”, in The Guardian:
- (dated) An awkward, heavy, clownish fellow.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| slouches | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
Synonyms
loafer · underachiever · laggard · idler
Translations (21)
de Durchhänger (any depression or hanging down) · fi lerpahdus (any depression or hanging down) · ru тормоз (someone who is slow to act) · cs hrbení se (hanging down of the head, a drooping posture; limp appearance) · fi vätys (someone who is slow to act) · fi vetelyys (hanging down of the head, a drooping posture; limp appearance) · fi velttous (hanging down of the head, a drooping posture; limp appearance) · de Niete (awkward, heavy, clownish fellow) · fi vetelys (someone who is slow to act) · de Schlafmütze (someone who is slow to act) · fi roikkuminen (any depression or hanging down) · fi roikottaminen (hanging down of the head, a drooping posture; limp appearance) · bg отпуснатост (hanging down of the head, a drooping posture; limp appearance) · de herumhängen (hanging down of the head, a drooping posture; limp appearance) · de Versager (awkward, heavy, clownish fellow) · de herumlungern (hanging down of the head, a drooping posture; limp appearance) · yue 寒背 (hanging down of the head, a drooping posture; limp appearance) · fi kyyhöttäminen (hanging down of the head, a drooping posture; limp appearance) · ru увалень (awkward, heavy, clownish fellow) · fi köntys (awkward, heavy, clownish fellow) · fr empoté (awkward, heavy, clownish fellow)