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! |
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 verbto 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 trueyou 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 ... |