a person who spends time with rich or important people, hoping to get an advantage.
Wherever there is Royalty, there will always be hangers-on.
(usually plural)
(redirected from a hanger-on)
hanger-on
Someone who spends time with a person or a group of people hoping to benefit in some way from the association. The term implies that such a person is sycophantic and/or unwanted. Ever since Jennifer became a famous actress, she's surrounded by hangers-on trying to use her to further their own careers.