John Niven

It's tough being a dictator, but I've always thought it must be tougher being a hanger-on to a dictator. The late nights spent listening to his crazed ranting, the weary rictus grin from smiling at bad jokes, the draining knowledge that one misjudged comment could land you on the chopping block.

Scottish Author

Frank Bruno

Boxing is the toughest and loneliest sport in the world. You've got all the fans, lots of hangers-on jumping up and shouting different words. But when you actually go in the ring, it's a very lonely and scary place. It's just you and the other guy.

British Athlete

Thomas Hoving

My address book of dealers and private collectors, smugglers and fixers, agents, runners and the peculiar assortment of art hangers-on was longer than anyone else's in the field.

American Educator

Sol Campbell

For too long executive officials, businesspeople and hangers-on have enjoyed this private casino, using the payments into Fifa's account to fund their lavish lifestyles.

English Businessman

Mike Oldfield

The biggest problems were to do with... well, to get that successful when you're so young, it attracts hangers-on, parasites, people who want to feed off you.

English Musician

P. J. O'Rourke

Mistreatment of al Qaeda members and their friends and hangers-on is something I number among my moral concerns. But it's number 1,000,000,001.

American Comedian

Anton Chekhov

The wealthy are always surrounded by hangers-on; science and art are as well.

Russian Dramatist

The term 'hanger-on' usually implies that someone is unwelcome or disapproved of by others.

Negative Connotation

'Hanger-on' suggests a one-sided relationship where one person benefits at the expense of another.

Not Reciprocal

Use 'hanger-on' when the person is specifically attracted to someone's wealth or success.

Wealth and Success Focus

 You have to pay the army and the police to show law and order. And because many of our governments are quite dictatorial, they need really to have the army clobber the opposition. The second thing you need to do is pay your political hangers-on. Why should people support their government?

Andrew Mwenda: Let's...

 how one experienced lioness on her own keeps six hangers-on well-fed

Hanger-on

Negative Connotation

Not Reciprocal

Wealth and Success Focus

Compare with

Never forget "Hanger-on"

WordUp Chrome Extension