2025-01-13 Mooch – The English We Speak

Introduction

“Let’s have a mooch!” – learn an informal British English word.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them, too! I’m Feifei, and I’m joined by Georgie. How are you, Georgie?

Georgie
I’m feeling pretty good actually, Feifei. I’ve just had a little mooch around the shops in my lunch break, and now I’m ready to get back to work.

Feifei
OK, you just used the word ‘mooch’ which I don’t think I’ve heard before! Why don’t you explain it for our listeners?

Georgie
Of course. So, ‘mooch’ or ‘mooch around’ is an informal British English word or phrase which means to wander or stroll around casually.

Feifei
And what is the purpose of mooching around?

Georgie
Well, the point is there isn’t really a purpose. We use it when we’re exploring shops, markets or streets without the aim of reaching a specific destination. Let’s hear from our BBC Learning English colleagues.

Examples
I really need some caffeine. I’m just going to mooch around the centre until I find a cafe.

We landed at 9 o’clock at night, so there wasn’t really anything to do, apart from mooch around the night market.

There’s a new art gallery that’s opened up in town, I, I don’t know a lot about it, but I’m, I’m just going to go and have a mooch and see what’s there.

Feifei
This is The English We Speak and we’re talking about ‘mooch’ and ‘mooch around’. Georgie, what is the difference? How can we actually use them?

Georgie
Good question. So, you can use the set phrase ‘have a mooch’ in a similar way that we use ‘have a look’. You can say “Let’s have a mooch” if you want to invite someone to wander aimlessly somewhere, without specifying the location.

Feifei
OK… And I guess if we want to specify where to mooch, we add ‘around’, like when you said you “had a little mooch around the shops”.

Georgie
Exactly! And you don’t always need the verb ‘have’ – mooch can act as a verb itself, for example ‘”I mooched around the shops in my lunchbreak”. OK, let’s recap. We’ve learnt the word ‘mooch’ which means stroll around casually, often without purpose.

Feifei
Now I really want to mooch around the city at the weekend. It sounds very relaxing!

Georgie
You should, Feifei! Remember to check out our website: bbclearningenglish.com for more resources to help you improve your English. Thanks for joining us.

Feifei
Bye!