ˈgood-for-ˌnought, a. and n.
[The phrase good for nought used attrib. or as n.]
= good-for-nothing a. and n.
| 1804 E. de Acton A Tale without a Title I. 265 An ungrateful good-for-naught! to serve your Honour after this fashion. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. I. 159 A good-for-nought booby, he nettled me sore. 1834 Lytton Pompeii iv. ii, My master, Diomed, is not one of those expensive good-for-noughts. 1852 Dickens Bleak Ho. xxxiv, I'm a harum-scarum sort of a good-for-nought. |