INEFFICIENT, INEFFICIENTLY
ADJECTIVES
► CLUNKY ponderous and inefficient → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► DANK inferior; inefficient → c1945 sl.
► DEEDLESS helpless, spiritless, inefficient → 1876 Eng. dial.
► GAVELESS awkward, clumsy, careless, inefficient → 1866 Sc.
► GAVELLOUS awkward, clumsy, careless, inefficient → 1866 Sc.
► HAYWIRE inadequately equipped, inefficient, makeshift → 1905 Amer. sl. esp. logging
► POCHLIN awkward, inefficient, bungling → 1949 Sc.
► SCAMPING badly or inefficiently done → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► SCAMPY badly or inefficiently done → 1897 Eng. dial.
► TRIFLING lazy, shiftless, inefficient, worthless, good-for-nothing → 1832 Amer. dial.
ADVERBS
► FEEBLY in a sorry manner or plight; inefficiently, insufficiently, niggardly, poorly, scantily → c1290 obs.
NOUNS – PERSON
► DILLOCK an inefficient housewife → 19C Eng. dial.
► LAME DUCK a lame or incapacitated person, or one who is old, weak, or ineffective; an invalid; hence, someone or something of no use or value; an inefficient person → 1814 sl.
► MAFFLE-HORN an incapable, blundering, inefficient person → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► RUM an ignoramus; an inefficient person → 1912 US criminals’ sl. (Bk.)
► SLACK-ARSE a lazy, inefficient, negligent person; a shirker; an idler → 1971 Aust. sl.
► WASH-OUT a helpless or inefficient person → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
PHRASES
► HE COULDN’T ORGANIZE A FUCK IN A BROTHEL directed at very inefficient or incompetent person → 1920s
► HE COULDN’T ORGANIZE A URINE SAMPLE IN A GOLDEN SHOWER used of an inefficient person or organization → 2005 UK sl.
► HE COULDN’T SELL ICE-WATER IN HELL directed at very inefficient or incompetent person → 1920s
VERBS
► BUMBLE ALONG to proceed clumsily or inefficiently → 1981 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► FART AROUND to waste time; to do something ineffectually or inefficiently → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► SCLATCH ► SKLATCH to perform any piece of work, such as building a house, in a clumsy, slovenly, inefficient manner → 1904 Sc. (Bk.)
► SHOW UP to make another person seem inefficient, ridiculous or inferior → Amer. colloq.
Lexicophilia 