freeloadingn.
/ˈfriːˌləʊdɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈfriˌloʊdɪŋ/ colloquial (originally U.S.).
The action of freeload v.; sponging, scrounging.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > eating in specific conditions > [noun] > eating at another's expense
freeloading1937
dine-and-dash1981
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > [noun] > parasitism or sponging
bloodsucking1583
parasitism1611
parasitry1663
sponging1677
sponge1693
parasiticalness1727
freeloading1937
1937 D. Runyon in Chester (Pa.) Times 11 Oct. 7/2 We have been taking an active part the past week in the baseball free loading that has been going on under the kindly auspices of..the owners of the Yankees and the Giants.
1948 S. J. Perelman Westward Ha! 19 His days of free-loading were over.
1971 Daily Tel. 1 July 7/3 Since the food cost an average of £1·75 a head, she thought this was freeloading at the taxpayers' expense.
1989 Lit. Rev. Aug. 26/2 By extensive freeloading, he managed to spend two years travelling.
1997 L. Lippman Baltimore Blues i. 8 She existed on an intricate system of favors and freeloading, which had made her cheap and a little spoiled.
2007 Sunday Express (Nexis) 15 July The couple were accused of freeloading when it was revealed they paid a peppercorn rent to the Queen for their luxurious apartment.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
freeloadingadj.
/ˈfriːˌləʊdɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈfriˌloʊdɪŋ/ colloquial (originally U.S.).
That is a freeloader; engaged in or given to freeloading.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > eating in specific conditions > [adjective] > eating at another's expense
freeloading1941
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > [adjective] > parasitical or sponging
parasiticala1566
smell-feast1566
spongy1602
sharking1608
parasitic1630
sponging1699
coshering1727
scunging1843
freeloading1941
1941 Mansfield (Ohio) News-Jrnl. 27 Sept. 2/1 He spent a fortune buying drinks for free-loading socialites.
1964 S. Bellow Herzog (1965) 124 My lousy, free-loading bohemian family, all chisellers.
2005 T. Hall Salaam Brick Lane (front cover) An extraordinary cast of characters—from Mr Ali, his freeloading slum landlord, to Sadie, the cantankerous Jewish widow downstairs.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1937adj.1941