shirk duty

/ʃɜːrk djuːti/

avoid responsibility

He tried to shirk duty by pretending to be sick.

He avoided his responsibilities by faking illness.

informal

To avoid or neglect one's responsibilities or obligations

The soldier was reprimanded for shirking duty during the mission.

The soldier was punished for avoiding his responsibilities during the mission.

You can't shirk your duties as a parent.

You cannot neglect your responsibilities as a parent.

Often used to criticize someone for not fulfilling their obligations.

Collocations

avoid taking blame

do something poorly to save effort

Use 'shirk duty' in formal or semi-formal contexts. In casual speech, 'dodge responsibility' is more common.

This phrase is often used to criticize someone, so use it carefully in professional settings.

From Middle English 'shirken' (to shrink back) + 'duty' (obligation). The phrase combines the idea of avoiding or withdrawing from a task.

Commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts to express disapproval of someone avoiding their obligations.

shirk

to avoid or withdraw from

verb

duty

a moral or legal obligation

noun

English Dictionary