Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

swing the lead

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.28 in modern English

Syllables: swing the lead
IPA

20

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

1

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To avoid work, especially by pretending to be ill; to shirk, to malinger.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"Though he was by no means inclined to help carry a gas-cylinder on a pole, while watching the working party fall in on the road that night, Bourne felt rather out of it; he felt as though he were swinging the lead."
"I said, ‘Well, how d'you like having to do some work for a change, instead of swinging the lead at Fort Hommet?’"

Usage

Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

swings the lead (present, singular) swinging the lead (participle, present) swung the lead (participle, past) swung the lead (past)

Phrases

dodge the column

Frequently Paired Words

dodge the column

Questions

What does swing the lead mean?: To avoid work, especially by pretending to be ill; to shirk, to malinger.

How to pronounce swing the lead

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