cadger
LowInformal, Potentially Pejorative
Definition
Meaning
A person who habitually gets things from others, especially money or food, by asking or begging; a petty beggar or scrounger.
A person who obtains something by imposing on others' generosity, often with a degree of cunning or persistence. Historically, a traveling peddler or hawker (British, archaic).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a strong negative connotation of laziness and parasitic behavior, implying exploitation of goodwill. It implies a habitual, ingrained pattern rather than a one-off request. The word can be used humorously among friends, but its core semantic prosody is pejorative.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used and understood in both varieties, but its historical sense of 'itinerant peddler' is more strongly associated with British English. In modern usage, it is slightly more common in British English but remains informal in both.
Connotations
Identical strong negative connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but perhaps marginally higher in British English due to historical cultural embedding.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
He's a cadger (for/of money).He's always cadging (cigarettes/beers).That cadger came round again.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's on the cadge.”
- “Stop cadging!”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used in formal business contexts. It may be used informally to disparage someone who constantly borrows supplies or expects others to pay for lunch.
Academic
Not used in academic writing except in historical or sociological discussions of poverty or informal economies.
Everyday
Used informally to complain about or mock someone who is always asking for things without reciprocating.
Technical
No technical usage. Found in lexicography and historical linguistics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He's always trying to cadge a lift to the station.
- She managed to cadge a free ticket off her cousin.
American English
- Can I cadge a cigarette from you?
- He cadged twenty bucks for gas and never paid it back.
adverb
British English
- (Rare, informal) He asked cadgingly for a contribution.
American English
- (Rare, informal) He looked at her cadgingly.
adjective
British English
- He has a cadging look about him.
- (Used as a participial adjective) A cadging relative is a nuisance.
American English
- She gave him a cadging glance, hoping for a free drink.
- I'm tired of his cadging ways.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My brother is a real cadger; he never buys his own snacks.
- Stop cadging sweets from your friends!
- That old cadger at the pub is always looking for someone to buy him a pint.
- She felt used after realizing he was just a professional cadger, not a genuine friend.
- His reputation as an incorrigible cadger meant that colleagues avoided sharing a table with him at lunch.
- The character was a charming but penniless cadger who lived entirely off the hospitality of his wealthier acquaintances.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CADET who's a BADger, always pestering others for favours. A 'CAD-GER' gets by CADding (begging) and badGERing people.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL INTERACTION IS A TRANSACTION (where the cadger is a defaulter). THE CADGER IS A PARASITE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'кодер' (coder/programmer). The Russian word 'попрошайка' is a direct equivalent for 'beggar', but 'cadger' has a stronger nuance of cunning and exploitation of acquaintances, not just random begging.
- Do not use to translate 'попросить' (to ask), which is neutral. 'Cadging' is always negative.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing as /'keɪdʒə/ (like 'cage').
- Confusing 'cadger' (noun) with the verb 'to cadge'.
- Overusing in formal contexts.
- Confusing with 'badger' (the animal).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following situations would the term 'cadger' be MOST appropriately and idiomatically used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is firmly informal and often used as a criticism or insult. It is not suitable for formal writing or polite conversation.
A beggar typically asks strangers for money or food in public. A cadger is more insidious, often targeting friends, family, or acquaintances, exploiting social relationships to get money, favours, or goods without intention to reciprocate.
Yes, the related verb is 'to cadge'. A 'cadger' is someone who cadges. For example: 'He's always cadging cigarettes.'
It is certainly pejorative and can be offensive if directed at someone. Calling someone a 'cadger' accuses them of being a parasitic freeloader. It can be used in a lighter, humorous way among close friends.