schlump

English

Alternative forms

• schloomp

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish שלומפּ (shlump, “stupid, foolish, or inept person”). Compare obsolete German Schlumpe (modern Schlampe).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃlʌmp/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌmp

Noun

schlump (plural schlumps)

1. (slang, originally US) Someone who is lazy, slovenly, or dull-looking.
   • 2009, J. Courtney Sullivan, Dating Up: Dump the Schlump and Find a Quality Man, Hachette, →ISBN:

     Leave the schlumps behind. You can't hope to find Mr. Right but continue to see Mr. Not-on-Your-Life.

Derived terms

• schlumpy
• schlumpily
• schlumpiness

Verb

schlump (third-person singular simple present schlumps, present participle schlumping, simple past and past participle schlumped)

1. (slang, intransitive) To move in a heavy, lazy or slovenly way.
   • 2010, Jenyne M. Raines, Beautylicious!: The Black Girl's Guide to the Fabulous Life, Crown, →ISBN, page 98:

     After years of wearing her hair in braids and schlumping down Seventh Avenue all covered up in padded coats, sweaters, and undies, Wally reinvented herself as a hot tamale with a mane of wild ringlets and a Coca-Cola—shaped bod.

   • 2015, Stevie Phillips, Judy & Liza & Robert & Freddie & David & Sue & Me…, St. Martin's Press, →ISBN, page 167:

     Al then schlumped upstage to the piano to talk with a man who could do anything asked of him. (Theater accompanists are an amazing lot. They can play anything you request in any tempo and in every key.)

See also

• schlep

Further reading

• Jonathon Green (2024) “schloomp n.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang