地道英语：蹭饭吃的人

　　Sponger

　　蹭饭吃的人

　　Neil: Hello and welcome to Authentic Real English, Im Neil.

　　Li: 我是杨莉。 Neil, is that a new watch?

　　Neil: Yes I got it from my parents.

　　Li: Oh thats nice.

　　Neil: Did I tell you Im going on holiday soon?

　　Li: No, where?

　　Neil: To Hawaii.

　　Li: Wow, how can you afford a holiday to Hawaii? Neil说他要去夏威夷度假，他怎么会有那么多钱呢?

　　Neil: My in-laws paid for it. We told them it was too expensive but, you know, we just need a holiday.

　　Li: 嗯，原来是他的岳父岳母在后面赞助呢。

　　Neil: Im thinking of giving up work actually, Li.

　　Li: Giving up work? 你说什么，放弃工作? 那你的生活开销怎么办?

　　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 youre going to give up work! 工作不要了，那你怎么能买新房子啊?

　　Neil: My grandparents will give me some money. They always do.

　　Li: Neil, theres a word for people like you. Youre a sponger!

　　Neil: A sponger!? How rude!

　　A: When I was at university I had no money at all. I had to buy second-hand clothes and I could never afford to go out for a meal even though I had a part-time job.

　　B: Yeah me too, but there were all these other students with cars and designer labels eating in expensive restaurants all paid for by Daddy.

　　A: What a bunch of spongers.

　　B: Yeah.

　　Li: A sponger 就是指那些从别人那里蹭饭蹭钱的人，在汉语里就是我们常说的游手好闲的人，在英语中常指靠吃政府救济的人 。

　　Neil: Just like a sponge.

　　Li: 就像海绵一样，从别人那里汲取好处，like 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 verb to sponge off someone.

　　Li: 这个词也可以用做动词 to sponge off someone 啃别人 。注意这个动词词组里要 使用 off.

　　Neil: Whether its a verb or a noun, its still not a nice thing to say about someone, Li.

　　Li: 恕我直言，我觉得你就是个典型的蹭饭的人 a sponger， 你说呢?

　　Neil: Youre right. Im a sponger but Im proud of it. Do you fancy taking me out for dinner? Theres a fantastic restaurant Ive been meaning to go to. Its very expensive, but you can afford it Li.

　　Li: 这不说着说着要到我头上来了，让我花钱请他去吃一顿! What a sponger