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I'm looking for a slang-word or idiom, with emphasis on the fact that the person never pays his debts. Such a person is always borrowing small amounts from friends and relatives (say, €20 or €50) because he knows it's much easier to get away with it. It can also involve bank loans and credit cards, but the main fact is that he is notorious for not paying back small amounts he borrows from friends. The term I'm looking for is a noun and would be used in a sentence such as this:

Attenzione, perché Giuseppe è un _____________ben noto.

DaG
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Centaurus
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2 Answers2

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I suggest scroccone:

  • Chi ha l'abitudine di far pagare sempre gli altri o di ottenere qlco. gratis.

Sabatini Coletti

  • “Scroccone” has a more general meaning than what the OP is looking. A scroccone might want to eat for free and the like, rather than specifically borrow money with no intention to repay it. – DaG Oct 05 '16 at 16:00
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    @DaG - yes but that is the term I'd use in the context OP is describing. I don't think there is a "money specific" term. –  Oct 05 '16 at 16:16
  • At this is the term I'd use in this situation, and honestly if someone behaves like that with money, s/he will probably do the same for non-monetary things too... – Denis Nardin Oct 05 '16 at 17:24
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    Sorry, I didn't mean only that a scroccone tries probably to get meals more than money, but mainly that the behaviour described by the OP is very specific, while scroccone is more generic. Who behaves like in the question is probably a scroccone, but certainly not all scrocconi behave in that manner. All giraffes are mammals, but not all mammals are giraffes. – DaG Oct 05 '16 at 17:44
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    @DaG - I agree, but I have to insist that "scroccone" still appears the best fit here. Any other suggestion is wellcome of course. –  Oct 05 '16 at 17:48
  • I could also suggest "parassita", but I would prefer "scroccone". – Riccardo De Contardi Oct 10 '16 at 07:55
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An expression that can be alternatively used instead of "scroccone" or "parassita " could also be "mangiapane a tradimento", with the meaning of profiteer. It also exists the expression "mangiatore a sbafo" with a similar meaning.

abarisone
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  • "parassita" is a word I know well. It can be applied to someone who lives at the expenses of (an)other(s) but is not specific for those who borrow money and never pay their debts. – Centaurus Oct 24 '16 at 22:46