mooch
mooch — verb
- moochpresent simple I / you / we / they
- moocheshe / she / it
- moochedpast simple
- mooching-ing form
1. to walk or move in a slow, unhurried way without a particular destination or tas
to walk or move in a slow, unhurried way without a particular destination or task in mind, often while passing time
Eitan spent Sunday afternoon mooching around the old part of town with no particular plan.
mooch around + [location] for aimless wandering
Ryo mooched about the kitchen looking for snacks instead of working on his essay.
mooch about for slow, unfocused movement indoors
We mooched along the canal path after lunch, stopping to look at the boats.
Sade mooched through the weekend market without buying a single thing.
- hurry
to move quickly with purpose
文法句型
mooch + about/around/along + [location]
用法筆記
Usually appears with about, around, or along to describe where the aimless movement happens. Common in British and Australian informal speech. The progressive form (was mooching) is the most frequent pattern.
常見錯誤
2. to obtain small, everyday things such as cigarettes, drinks, or rides by asking
to obtain small, everyday things such as cigarettes, drinks, or rides by asking people rather than buying them, with no plan to repay or share the cost
Wei is always mooching cigarettes off his coworkers instead of buying his own pack.
mooch + [item] + off + [person]
Nadia mooched a ride home from Lucía rather than taking the crowded bus.
Rania's brother keeps mooching money from their parents even though he earns a salary.
Mathieu tried to mooch dinner by showing up at his sister's house right at mealtime.
Dahlia got tired of her roommate mooching her shampoo every morning without asking.
- pay
to give money in exchange for something
- contribute
to give something toward a shared cost
文法句型
mooch + [item] + off/from + [person]
mooch off/from + [person]
用法筆記
The item taken is typically small and consumable — cigarettes, money, food, drink. The person being taken from is introduced with off or from: mooch something off someone, mooch something from someone. Avoid in formal or professional writing.
常見錯誤
mooch — noun
1. a relaxing time spent slowly moving through a place with no particular goal or t
a relaxing time spent slowly moving through a place with no particular goal or task that needs doing
After breakfast, the Watanabes went for a mooch around the neighborhood gardens.
go for a mooch around + [place]
Lisa enjoyed a morning mooch through the second-hand bookshops on the high street.
We had a pleasant mooch along the river path before the rain started.
The doctor went for a quick mooch through the garden between appointments.
文法句型
have a mooch
go for a mooch
a mooch around/through + [place]
用法筆記
Used mainly in British English in the patterns have a mooch or go for a mooch. Nearly always follows a prepositional phrase (around, through, along) that specifies the area explored.
2. a person who regularly takes money, food, or other things from people without pa
a person who regularly takes money, food, or other things from people without paying or giving anything in return
Nila called her cousin a mooch because he never paid when they went out.
call someone a mooch — common expression
The party was full of mooches who drank the wine without bringing any.
After years as a mooch, Madison got a job and stopped borrowing from friends.
The new housemate was a total mooch who never paid for shared groceries.
- freeloader
more common and slightly less harsh
- scrounger
more common in British English
- sponger
focuses on living off others' generosity
- parasite
much stronger insult; avoid in everyday use
- provider
someone who gives rather than takes
- contributor
someone who shares costs fairly
文法句型
be a mooch
a mooch who/that...
用法筆記
Strongly informal and mildly derogatory. More common in American English than British. Often used in complaints or criticism about someone's behaviour. Avoid in polite or professional conversation.