BBC Learning English
The English We Speak
8
th
November 2011
Sponger
The English We Speak
© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
Page 1 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com
Neil:
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, I'm Neil.
Li:
And I'm Li. Neil, is that a new watch?
Neil:
Yes I got it from my parents.
Li:
Oh that's nice.
Neil:
Did I tell you I'm going on holiday soon?
Li:
No, where?
Neil:
To Hawaii.
Li:
Wow, how can you afford a holiday to Hawaii?
Neil:
My in-laws paid for it. We told them it was too expensive but, you know, we
just need a holiday.
Li:
Hmm… so your in-laws have paid for your holiday too…
Neil:
I'm thinking of giving up work actually, Li.
Li:
Giving up work? What about the cost of living?
Neil:
Oh my wife can work. You know what, Li? I really need to move into a
bigger house in a nicer part of London.
Li:
But you just said you're going to give up work! How can you afford a new
house if you have no job?
Neil:
My grandparents will give me some money. They always do.
Li:
Neil, there's a word for people like you. You're a sponger!
Neil:
A sponger!? How rude!
The English We Speak
© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
Page 2 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com
Example
A: When I was at university I had no money at all. I had to buy second-hand clothes and I
could never afford to go out for a meal even though I had a part-time job.
B: Yeah me too, but there were all these other students with cars and designer labels eating in
expensive restaurants all paid for by Daddy.
A: What a bunch of spongers.
B: Yeah.
Li:
A sponger is a person who gets money, food and other things from other
people without paying. Often it's used very negatively to describe people who
live off state benefits.
Neil:
Just like a sponge.
Li:
Yes, a sponge.
Neil:
A sponge soaks up the water all around it. A sponger soaks up gifts, food and
money without working. And it can also be used as a verb – to sponge off
someone.
Li:
It's also a verb 'to sponge off someone.' Be careful to use the word 'off' with
this verb.
Neil:
Whether it's a verb or a noun, it's still not a nice thing to say about someone,
Li.
Li:
Well I'm sorry to be rude, but it's true – you are a sponger.
Neil:
You're right. I'm a sponger but I'm proud of it. Do you fancy taking me out
for dinner? There's a fantastic restaurant I've been meaning to go to. It's very
expensive, but you can afford it Li.
Li:
He's trying to sponge a meal off me! What a sponger…
The English We Speak
© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
Page 3 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com