Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who habitually asks for or obtains things from others without paying or intending to repay; a moocher or scrounger: A "cadger" is someone who regularly tries to get money, food, or other items from others, often through persistent or manipulative requests.

Usage

• The word "cadger" is a somewhat informal and often derogatory term. It describes a person whose behavior is characterized by dependency on others' generosity, typically without offering anything in return. It implies a lack of self-sufficiency and can suggest annoyance or disapproval from the speaker's perspective.

Examples

• Noun:
  • He was known around the office as a cadger, always asking colleagues to buy him lunch but never offering to pay.
  • The neighborhood cadger would go from door to door with a hard-luck story, hoping for a handout.

Advanced Usage

• "To be a bit of a cadger": to have a tendency to ask for things from others.
  • He's a nice guy, but he can be a bit of a cadger when it comes to borrowing tools.

Variants and Related Words

• Cadge (verb): To ask for or obtain something, typically money or food, by imposing on another's generosity.
  • He tried to cadge a cigarette from a stranger.
• Cadging (noun/gerund): The act or practice of obtaining things by cadging.
  • His constant cadging eventually drove his friends away.

Synonyms

• Moocher: A person who lives off others without giving anything in return.
• Scrounger: A person who seeks to obtain something, typically food or money, at the expense of others.
• Sponger: A person who lives at others' expense; a parasite.
• Beggar: A person, typically a homeless one, who lives by asking for money or food. (Note: "Beggar" is more directly associated with public solicitation, while "cadger" can occur in personal relationships.)

Antonyms

• Provider: A person who supplies or supports others.
• Benefactor: A person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.
• Giver: A person who gives something.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "On the cadge": Actively seeking to obtain something for free.
  • He's been on the cadge all week, looking for someone to lend him money.

Noun

1. someone who mooches or cadges (tries to get something free)