Lackadaisical: the word born from a shrug

There are so many words in the dictionary that carry an undeniable “ick” factor. You know the type — the ones that sound like they were plucked from thin air, but you just know somebody once embodied the exact spirit of that word. Enter lackadaisical. It’s a fancy-sounding way of saying someone is doing something indifferently, like they’re dragging through life with a “meh” attitude. But how did it land in our lexicon? Did some ancient slacker inspire this word through sheer indifference?

Let’s paint a picture. Imagine it’s the 1300s. A guy has got a gig carving stones for some cathedral — a “dream job” in the medieval sense. But our man? Not exactly giving it his all. Maybe he chips at the rock half-heartedly, then tosses it aside. Maybe he doesn’t even check if it’s the right size. A fellow worker, likely a much more motivated stone mason, finally has enough. “You know, you’re really lackadaisical,” he huffs. And just like that — boom — a new word is born.
Well, not exactly.

In reality, lackadaisical hails from the 18th century. It’s rooted in the word lackaday, which was an old-timey way of saying “Alas!” or expressing regret. Picture someone sighing dramatically, flopping onto a chaise lounge, lamenting their circumstances — all very “woe is me.” Eventually, people took that melodrama and applied it to anyone dragging their feet through life like it was all just too much. It evolved into a descriptor for those who couldn’t be bothered.

But here’s the thing — we all have a bit of the lackadaisical spirit in us sometimes. Maybe it’s the coworker who “double-clicks” their way through a meeting while half-watching cat videos. Or the teenager responding to “How was school?” with a world-weary “Fine.” And let’s be honest, who among us hasn’t faced a Monday morning with a distinct lack of gusto?

Yet, words like lackadaisical also remind us how language evolves from our quirks and imperfections. Every eye-roll, every half-hearted attempt at assembling IKEA furniture — they all contribute to the living, breathing entity that is the English language.

So, the next time you spot a lackadaisical soul moseying through their day, maybe tip your hat. After all, they’re just carrying on the legacy of centuries of languid loafers who paved the way for one fantastically lazy word.

Wendy Kushel is the owner of Wendala’s LowCountry Sugar Scrub, LLC based in Bluffton, SC. Drawn to the Beauty & Personal Care Industry Wendy founded her company in 2020. Her background includes stand-up comedy, film, TV and a lot of sales and marketing. www.lowcountrysugarscrub.com or call/text 843-949-8933.