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Glite Dictionary
to be a scanger

to be a scanger

9.9
To take things from other people without giving anything back
  • phrasal verb
  • Offensive
translation icon : ser un aprovechado
  • Don't be a scanger—pay your own way for once.

Examples

  • He always tries to be a scanger at parties, never bringing anything to share.

  • He has always been a scanger when it comes to meals.

  • Some people be a scanger whenever they get the chance.

  • Don't be a scanger at the party!

  • He often be a scanger, showing up to gatherings empty-handed and expecting others to provide food.

  • If you continue to be a scanger, your friends will start to feel taken advantage of.

  • At the picnic, she decided to be a scanger by eating the snacks everyone else brought without contributing.

Synonyms

to leech
vsto be a scanger
  • Offensive
8 7.5

To take advantage of someone by always using their help or money without giving anything back

may describe similar taking but not always continuous or relentless
to mooch off
vsto be a scanger
  • Informal
5 8.6

To get food, money, or help from someone without paying

is the general habit of taking from people without giving back
to leech off
vsto be a scanger
  • Offensive
4 7.9

To take money, food, or help from someone without giving anything back

can describe taking advantage even when not a repeated pattern
to be a pig
vsto be a scanger
  • Offensive
4 8.8

To take more than your fair share of food or things

focuses on exploiting generosity rather than simply taking an unfair share
like a leech
vsto be a scanger
  • Offensive
1 8.3

Asking people for money and help without giving anything back

is the basic behaviour of taking advantage without intense dependency
to schnorr
vsto be a scanger
  • Offensive
9.9

To get things like food or rides by asking others and not paying

is broader, covering taking advantage not limited to pleading or begging

Antonyms

to contribute
883 2.7

To give money, help, or ideas to make something work

to give back
33 3.0

Support others by offering time or money to say thank you

How Selfish

to freeload
  • Informal
6 7.5
to be a scanger
  • Offensive
9.9

Surface Forms

be a scanger infinitive
was a scanger past
been a scanger past participle
being a scanger present participle
is a scanger third person singular

Morphology

be + a + scanger

The grammar 'be a' is fully compositional, but the key noun 'scanger' is slang/regional and not semantically transparent or predictable from its form. A B1 learner who only knows 'be' and 'a' would not be able to infer the meaning 'to mooch or take advantage' without prior exposure, so the expression is opaque.

Etymology

Be a scanger may come from the word scavenger, which makes you think of an animal or person picking up other people's leftovers. So saying someone be a scanger creates the image of a person taking things and not giving back, which is why it means 'to mooch' or 'to take advantage of people's generosity'.