mooching and freeloading

[euncu]

Is there a difference between mooching and freeloading?

Thanks for your answers in advance.

[Tdol]

To me, freeloading is enjoying someone's hospitality, etc, for free, possibly abusing their generosity, while mooching is walking around in no particular direction to fill time.

[JohnParis]

Mooching off of someone and freeloading sort of mean the same thing, but to me mooching has a shorter connotation of time. While neither are a one-time occurrence, freeloading makes me think of my brother-in-law who has been actively engaged in the craft for years.

John

[SoothingDave]

Mooch | Define Mooch at Dictionary.com

To me, mooching is part-time and petty, while freeloading is a lifestyle.

I might mooch a cigarette off of you, but the proverbial brother-in-law on the couch is freeloading.

[emsr2d2]

I've learnt something new again here. I had never heard of "to mooch" meaning to get something for free.

I have heard/used:

He cadged a cigarette off me.
He scavved a cigarette off me.
He pinched/nicked a cigarette from her.

As far as I was concerned, to mooch meant to wander slowly and possibly aimlessly.

[5jj]

As far as I was concerned, to mooch meant to wander slowly and possibly aimlessly.

The same for me, and for Tdol. It must be a BrE/AmE thing.

[SoothingDave]

I've learnt something new again here. I had never heard of "to mooch" meaning to get something for free.

I have heard/used:

He cadged a cigarette off me.
He scavved a cigarette off me.
He pinched/nicked a cigarette from her.

As far as I was concerned, to mooch meant to wander slowly and possibly aimlessly.

Wouldn't "nicked" mean that he stole it?

[Tdol]

Pinch/nick can be used in this way in BrE:

Can I pinch/nick/bum/ponce/scrounge,etc, a cigarette/fag/tab?

[Tdol]

Mooching off of someone and freeloading sort of mean the same thing, but to me mooching has a shorter connotation of time. While neither are a one-time occurrence, freeloading makes me think of my brother-in-law who has been actively engaged in the craft for years.

John

This is news to me- I must go and play Minnie the Moocher- it may start making a bit of sense now.

[JohnParis]

This is news to me- I must go and play Minnie the Moocher- it may start making a bit of sense now.

Cab Calloway may have coined the term in his 1931 song. I just had another look at the lyrics and Minnie did alright for herself in the "mooching" area. But, eventually, we're led to believe that she overdid it. Poor Min...
Speaking of the lyrics, I'd have given anything to hear them sung live.

John