shnorr
Definition
Verb: * To obtain something, typically money or small items, by persistently and artfully asking or begging, often from friends or acquaintances. It implies a habitual or somewhat shameless seeking of favors or handouts without intending to give anything in return.
Usage
The verb "shnorr" is informal and often carries a mildly critical or humorous tone, describing the act of getting things by mooching or sponging. It is typically used in casual conversation. * It is conjugated as a regular verb: shnorrs, shnorring, shnorred. * It is often followed by the preposition "from" to indicate the source.
Examples
- He's always shnorring bus fare from his coworkers.
- Don't shnorr food from the neighbors; go to the store.
- She successfully shnorred a ticket to the concert.
- I caught him trying to shnorr a drink at the bar.
Advanced Usage / Nuances
- The term originates from Yiddish and is closely associated with contexts describing a specific, often culturally recognized, behavior of persistent but artful begging or scrounging.
- It can describe both the act of asking and the successful acquisition through that means.
- Unlike formal begging, "shnorring" often occurs within a social circle where there is some existing relationship, however slight.
Variants and Related Words
- Shnorrer (noun): A person who habitually shnorrs; a moocher or scrounger.
- That guy is a professional shnorrer; he never buys his own lunch.
Synonyms
- Cadge
- Scrounge
- Mooch
- Sponge
- Bum (informal)
Antonyms
- Give
- Provide
- Offer
- Pay for
Related Idioms / Phrases
- To live on the shnorr: To sustain oneself primarily by getting things from others without paying.
- After losing his job, he seemed to be living on the shnorr for months.
Verb
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obtain or seek to obtain by cadging or wheedling
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he is always shnorring cigarettes from his friends
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