mooches off
Lives off others
To mooch off someone is to habitually take advantage of their generosity without reciprocating—freeloading food, money, housing, or other resources: He's thirty-five and still mooching off his parents.
The phrase implies a pattern of dependency rather than a one-time favor, and carries mild contempt for the moocher's lack of self-sufficiency.
- scroungeObtain through begging
- freeloadTake without reciprocating
- cadgeObtain by begging
- leechBlood-feeding aquatic worm
- free rideBenefit without cost
free-riding · couch surfer · parasite · takes advantage of · take advantage · sponge · handouts · spare change · exploit · opportunism · bums around · hanger-on · dead weight · meal ticket · manipulation · dependency · borrow · entitlement
mooches offearns one's keep
Provides value for support
self-sufficient · independent · self-reliant · self-supporting · pulls one's own weight
mooches offsupports
Sustains or reinforces
bankrolls · subsidizes · funds · finances · takes care of
mooches offcontributes
Gives toward a goal
gives back · pulls one's weight · pitches in · reciprocates · pays one's dues