scroungers
Those seeking handouts
Scroungers are people who obtain things by asking, begging, or taking without paying or reciprocating.
The word carries a distinctly negative connotation, suggesting someone who habitually mooches off others rather than providing for themselves.
In British political discourse, scroungers often appears as a disparaging term for welfare recipients, implying they exploit the benefits system rather than work.
The tabloids love to run stories about benefit scroungers.
One who begs publicly
- homelessWithout a dwelling
- vagrantHomeless itinerant person
- destituteUtterly without means
- down-and-outLacking all resources
pauper · indigent · penniless · impoverished · dispossessed · needy · alms · handout
One who mooches
- cadgerPersistent borrower without repayment
- bludgerIdle person avoiding work
- deadbeatPerson avoiding owed payments
- moocherOne who cadges habitually
leech · hanger-on · dependant · user · exploiter · couchsurfer · nonpayer · borrower
Obtain by begging
- spongeAbsorbent cleaning material
- freeloadTake without reciprocating
- bumIdle vagrant
- bludgeEvade work, idle
panhandle · borrow · scavenge · hustle · grift · score · beg · wheedle
Laceless slip-on shoe
- idlerHabitually unproductive person
- layaboutHabitually idle person
- slackerIdle responsibility evader
- bumIdle vagrant
shirker · wastrel · do-nothing · goldbricker · malingerer · slouch · drifter · hobo
panhandler
One who begs publicly
down-and-out · pauper · indigent · penniless · impoverished · dispossessed · needy · alms · handout · charity
sponger
One who mooches
- cadgerPersistent borrower without repayment
- bludgerIdle person avoiding work
- deadbeatPerson avoiding owed payments
moocher · leech · hanger-on · dependant · user · exploiter · couchsurfer · nonpayer · borrower · taker
cadge
Obtain by begging
bludge · panhandle · borrow · scavenge · hustle · grift · score · beg · wheedle · hit-up
loafer
Laceless slip-on shoe
bum · shirker · wastrel · do-nothing · goldbricker · malingerer · slouch · drifter · hobo · lazybones
forager
One seeking wild food
- rummagerOne who searches untidily
- dumpster-diverPerson salvaging discarded items
- pickerOne who gathers
salvager · collector · gleaner · thrifter · recycler · magpie
scroungersgivers
Those who donate
donors · benefactors · philanthropists · providers · contributors
scroungerscontributors
Those who give help
producers · providers · workers · benefactors · breadwinners
scroungersearners
Those who make money
self-starters · breadwinners · wage earners · providers · go-getters
- scrounge upObtain with difficulty
- on the scrounge