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