Person who lives off another (5) Crossword Clue
Answer: LEECH (5 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Person who lives off another" with 5 letters is "LEECH".Leech refers to a person who exploits or takes advantage of another, often by living off their resources without contributing. The term originates from the parasitic leech, which feeds on the blood of other animals, and is used metaphorically to describe someone who drains others' energy, money, or efforts.
Why “Leech” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (5 letters) meaning “person who lives off another.” The answer, LEECH, fits perfectly:
- Person who lives off another: Leech is used metaphorically to describe someone who depends on or exploits another person for support or resources — exactly matching the clue’s definition.
- Direct match: With five letters, leech fits the enumeration precisely.
- Precise meaning: The word conveys parasitism or dependency, describing an individual who drains another’s wealth, energy, or generosity without giving anything in return.
The word leech originates from the name of the parasitic blood-sucking worm but evolved into a metaphor for exploitative human behavior:
Origin and usage:
- From Old English lǣce, meaning “physician” or “healer” — because leeches were once used in medical treatments (bloodletting).
- The parasitic worm meaning developed later, and by the 16th century, leech was being used metaphorically for people who “feed” off others’ means or efforts.
Literal meaning:
- A small aquatic or terrestrial worm attaching itself to a host to feed on blood or body fluids.
Figurative meaning:
- A dependent or exploitative person — figuratively “sucking the life or money” out of someone.
Examples:
- “He’s such a leech—always borrowing money and never paying it back.”
- “The freeloaders acted like leeches, depending on her generosity.”
- “She felt drained by her leech of a friend.”
In quick crosswords like “Person who lives off another (5),” clues commonly use metaphorical definitions to describe personality traits or behaviors:
Definition: The clue directly defines leech as someone who habitually depends on others.
Clue type: Simple definition clue — no hidden meaning, just a figurative description.
Solving approach:
- Focus on short, vivid nouns that denote dependency or parasitism — leech, sponger, parasite, hanger-on.
- The 5-letter enumeration narrows the field immediately to leech, the most familiar metaphor of this kind.
Crossword pattern: Quick crosswords often convert biological or physical terms (leech, shark, vulture) into metaphors for human traits, making leech both literal and figurative.
