to bite into; to sink one's teeth into; to stick to; to cling to; to hold on to
to gnaw; to nibble; to bite; to dabble in; to have a smattering of
to depend on somebody else's (financial) support (usu. one's parents')
to depend on one's parents' (financial) support; (lit.) to nibble at one's parents' shins
sponging off one's parents
sponging (e.g. off one's parents); sponger