free ride
Unearned benefit given
A free ride is something obtained without effort or cost, especially when others bear the burden.
Someone who gets a free ride benefits without contributing: He's been getting a free ride while the rest of us do the work.
The phrase often carries a note of resentment toward those exploiting others' labor or generosity.
In economics, the free rider problem describes people who enjoy public goods without paying for them.
Obtain by begging
- spongeAbsorbent cleaning material
- leechBlood-feeding aquatic worm
- parasiteOne exploiting a host
- take advantageUse opportunistically for benefit
coattails · piggyback · handout · entitlement · moocher · sponger · scrounge · user
Educational funding or erudition
- grantBestow or award money
- sponsorshipFunded endorsement arrangement
- benefactorOne who gives aid
- donationVoluntary charitable gift
patronage · fellowship · subsidy · charity · philanthropy · endowment · stipend · bursary
Preferring kin in hiring
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- exemptionRelease from requirement
- advantageFavorable position or circumstance
unearned · unmerited · undeserved · special treatment · inside track · leg up · connection · pull
mooch
Obtain by begging
take advantage · coattails · piggyback · handout · entitlement · moocher · sponger · scrounge · user · impose
scholarship
Educational funding or erudition
- grantBestow or award money
- sponsorshipFunded endorsement arrangement
- benefactorOne who gives aid
donation · patronage · fellowship · subsidy · charity · philanthropy · endowment · stipend · bursary · generosity
nepotism
Preferring kin in hiring
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- exemptionRelease from requirement
advantage · unearned · unmerited · undeserved · special treatment · inside track · leg up · connection · pull · preferential
- easy moneyeasy money, quick buck, fast cash, windfall, gravy train
- philanthropydonations, charity work, donate, give, giving
- money slangbucks, dough, moolah, cheddar, cash
- suckerssucker, lollipop, Dum Dum, Tootsie Pop, all-day sucker
free ridehard work
Sustained strenuous effort
pulling one's weight · paying one's dues · sweat equity · blood sweat and tears · earning one's keep
free ridefull price
Amount without reductions
premium rate · market rate · toll road · fee-for-service · pay-as-you-go
free ridequid pro quo
Reciprocal exchange of value
level playing field · fair trade · mutual obligation · reciprocity · shared burden