Lack of Effort: English Vocabulary List

to fail to keep on doing something

"Do not let dreams fall by the wayside."

"Many of his ambitious plans for the company eventually fell by the wayside due to lack of funding."

to decide against doing something

"I think I will give the party a miss."

"The weather is terrible so I think I will give the beach trip a miss today."

to put an stop to an activity one knows has very little or no chance of achieving success

"The old engine gave up the ghost."

"After weeks of trying to revive the failing business, the owner finally decided to give up the ghost."

to make a minimal effort to do something, particularly in order to help someone

"He never lifts a finger to help at home."

"He never lifts a finger to help around the house while his wife does all the cleaning and cooking."

to try one's best to improve something that is not good or satisfactory enough

"You need to pull your socks up."

"The lazy student needs to pull his socks up if he wants to pass his final exams."

to lose one's enthusiasm or motivation, making one incapable of finishing a job or task

"I ran out of steam quickly."

"After working on the report for six hours straight, she ran out of steam and decided to take a break."

to accept a less important, less visible, or secondary role compared to someone else

"He decided to take a back seat and let me lead."

"After running the company for thirty years he decided to take a back seat and let others lead."

achieved or delivered to one easily or without making any effort

"He expects everything on a silver platter."

"The rich young man had everything handed to him on a silver platter and never worked hard."

to give up doing something or stop being a part of something, particularly due to seeing no way of success

"He decided to throw his hand in."

"After years of struggling with the business, she finally threw her hand in and sold everything."

to neglect important issues and handle less important ones instead

"He fiddled while Rome burned."

"The manager was fiddling while Rome burned, focusing on minor details instead of addressing the company's financial crisis."

to fail to keep on doing something

"He will tofallby the wayside."

"Many promising projects tend to fall by the wayside due to insufficient funding or changing priorities."

to put an stop to an activity one knows has very little or no chance of achieving success

"He gave up the ghost."

"Realizing the project was irrevocably doomed, the manager decided to give up the ghost and abandon it."