Is there a slang word or idiom for someone who borrows money from friends or relatives and never (or rarely) pays them back?
Edit - My question doesn't refer to bank loans or credit card accounts. Nor does it refer to getting things out of other people's generosity. It is specifically about money and the putative duplicate doesn't address that. If there is no specific word for someone who never pays back his debts, then the answer here should be "there is no specific word for that".
I'm looking for a slang word or idiom for a person who borrows small amounts from friends or relatives (say US$ 50-200) and never pays them back. Usually this kind of person has low-income or is jobless. He is irresponsible, he knows he won't be able to pay his debts but doesn't care. (Perhaps because he knows nobody will be taking him to court because of US$20 or 50.)
"I wouldn't lend him one cent. Everybody knows he's a ........."
You can consider welch or welcher. These terms are used for people who fail to repay a small debt. The debt is usually a betting or gambling debt but these terms can be applied to other contexts as well. They are considered derogatory.
welch (n)
A person who defaults on an obligation, especially a small one.
She's a welch. That isn't hers, I lent her that watering can three years ago.
welch (v)
- To fail to repay a small debt.
- To fail to fulfill an obligation.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/welch
Related questions:
- Are the terms "welsh" or "welch" (as in reneging on a bet) derogatory toward the Welsh people?
- What would you call someone who imposes on other people's generosity?
- What do you call someone who is always asking for favours?
Moocher--a bit old-fashioned and not much in use nowadays.
Deadbeat is a bit more general.
Or sponge.
Deadbeat specifically means someone who doesn't pay back money borrowed, or debts owed, ever. A deadbeat borrows, and betrays trust of family and friends.
A moocher or a sponge or a freeloader or a scrounger have similar meanings to each other, but different than deadbeat. All are cheapskates, consistently taking advantage of the generosity or obliviousness of others in a non-business context. These terms do not necessarily, or even customarily, refer to taking money, but rather, sharing a ride but not reciprocating as promised, sharing a hotel room at a convention but not contributing to the expenses etc.
It isn't especially relevant to this question, but since a highly regarded community member with an up voted answer used an ngram (not "ngam"), I will do similarly to make my case for deadbeat.
See Deadbeat versus moocher, sponge, scrounger and freeloader for the associated Google Ngram Viewer query.