living off
4 synonyms for living off, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Phrasal verb — Surviving financially on a particular source of money, often one that is limited, borrowed or provided by someone else.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
subsisting on
surviving on
sponging off
relying on
How to use living off
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
living off savings
living off benefits
living off the land
living off scraps
Living off a person implies dependence and often mild disapproval; living on a sum of money is neutral. Living off of is common in American speech but redundant in writing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between living off and living on?
They overlap heavily, but living on names the amount or level you manage with, as in living on £900 a month, while living off names the source you draw from, as in living off an inheritance. Living off a person carries a hint of criticism that living on does not.
Is "living off of" correct?
It is standard in American English speech and increasingly in writing, but the of adds nothing. British usage prefers living off, and formal writing on both sides drops it.
