sponge
sponge — noun
1. a soft, light cleaning item made of material with many small openings, designed
a soft, light cleaning item made of material with many small openings, designed to take in and squeeze out water for washing things
Felipe wet the sponge and squeezed it before washing the dishes.
collocation: wet the sponge / squeeze the sponge
The kitchen sponge smelled bad, so Aoi threw it in the bin.
Use a clean sponge to wipe down the bathroom counter every week.
The children used damp sponges to wash the paint off the classroom tables.
文法句型
[countable] a sponge
2. a quick way to wash yourself or clean a surface by rubbing it with a damp sponge
a quick way to wash yourself or clean a surface by rubbing it with a damp sponge or piece of fabric, without getting into a bath or using running water
After the long hike, Emre gave himself a quick sponge with a wet towel.
countable: give [sb] a sponge
The nurse gave the elderly patient a warm sponge to bring down her fever.
A quick sponge of the kitchen counters got rid of all the sticky spots.
The campsite had no shower, so the children had a sponge before bed.
- wipe-down
a quick clean with a cloth, less thorough than a sponge bath
文法句型
a sponge
give [sb] a sponge
have a sponge
用法筆記
Often found in the phrases 'have a sponge', 'give someone a sponge', or 'a quick sponge'. More common in British English than American English.
3. a light, airy cake that gets its soft texture from beaten eggs mixed with sugar
a light, airy cake that gets its soft texture from beaten eggs mixed with sugar and flour, often with butter or oil added
Lakshmi baked a lemon sponge for her mother's birthday party.
collocation: bake a [flavor] sponge
Victoria sponge is a classic British cake filled with jam and cream.
The dessert menu featured a warm chocolate sponge with fresh berries.
This recipe makes a light sponge that rises beautifully in the oven.
- sponge cake
the full term; more common in American English
- cake
general term; sponge is a specific light type
文法句型
[countable/uncountable] sponge
a [flavor] sponge
用法筆記
Also called 'sponge cake'. In the UK, 'Victoria sponge' (named after Queen Victoria) is a popular type filled with jam and cream. In the US, the term 'sponge cake' is more common than just 'sponge'.
4. a very simple sea creature that has many tiny openings in its soft body, stays a
a very simple sea creature that has many tiny openings in its soft body, stays attached to rocks underwater, and gets food by drawing water in through those openings
The divers filmed a bright orange sponge growing on the coral reef.
collocation: [color] sponge growing on [surface]
Natural bath sponges are the dried skeletons of certain sea sponges.
Sponges are among the oldest living creatures on Earth.
A sponge can regrow into a new animal if its body is broken into pieces.
- poriferan
technical term for the phylum Porifera; not used in everyday language
文法句型
[countable] a sponge
用法筆記
Natural sponges used for bathing (noun sense 1) come from the dried skeletons of these animals. Most household sponges today are synthetic.
5. a person who regularly takes money, food, or somewhere to live from other people
a person who regularly takes money, food, or somewhere to live from other people without giving anything back or making any effort to support themselves
Owen's friends called him a sponge because he never offered to pay for anything.
informal: call [sb] a sponge
Defne got tired of being a sponge and finally found a job and moved out.
The landlord refused to support a sponge — his brother had to pay rent.
After a year as a sponge, Linh moved out to find her own place.
- parasite
stronger and more formal than 'sponge'; implies exploitation
- freeloader
informal, similar meaning; emphasises getting free things
- scrounger
informal British term; focuses on habitually asking for things
- provider
someone who supports others rather than depending on them
文法句型
[countable] a sponge
用法筆記
Informal and disapproving. Similar meaning to 'parasite' but less formal and less harsh. Often used in the phrase 'be a sponge' or 'call someone a sponge'.
sponge — verb
1. to take money, meals, or other benefits from people without offering anything ba
to take money, meals, or other benefits from people without offering anything back, often because you do not want to work or pay for yourself
Noa's cousin has been sponging off his parents for years instead of getting a job.
sponge off [sb]: get without giving
Imani refused to sponge on her friends, so she paid for her own meal.
Caio is always trying to sponge a free drink at the bar from strangers.
After months of sponging off his sister, he felt ashamed and started looking for work.
- earn
to get money by working rather than by taking from others
- support oneself
to pay for one's own needs without help
文法句型
sponge off [sb]
sponge on [sb]
sponge [sth] off [sb]
用法筆記
Always used with a preposition ('off' or 'on') when followed by a person. Strongly disapproving in tone — the speaker judges the person as lazy or unfair.
常見錯誤
2. to clean a surface by rubbing it with a damp sponge or a piece of cloth
to clean a surface by rubbing it with a damp sponge or a piece of cloth
Felipe sponged the kitchen floor after spilling juice on it.
sponge + [surface]: clean by rubbing with a sponge
The doctor carefully sponged the wound before putting on a fresh bandage.
Esme sponged the red wine stain with cold water, but it would not come out.
The walls were dirty, so Nicholas sponged them down with warm soapy water.
文法句型
sponge [something]
sponge [something] down
sponge [something] with [liquid]
用法筆記
Can be used with 'down' for thorough cleaning (sponge down the walls) or with a liquid to specify what is used (sponge with cold water).
3. to take in and hold a liquid the way a sponge does, drawing it into the tiny hol
to take in and hold a liquid the way a sponge does, drawing it into the tiny holes inside the material
The paper towels quickly sponged up the water that spilled across the table.
sponge up: absorb liquid completely
The dry ground sponged up all the rain within a few minutes.
Use a clean cloth to sponge the extra oil from the frying pan.
A soft towel can sponge the moisture out of your hair after a shower.
文法句型
sponge up [liquid]
sponge [liquid] from [surface]
sponge [liquid]
用法筆記
Often paired with 'up' to emphasise complete absorption. The object can be the liquid itself (sponge up the milk) or the source (sponge the milk from the carpet).
4. to remove or make something disappear by rubbing it with a wet sponge or cloth,
to remove or make something disappear by rubbing it with a wet sponge or cloth, especially marks, stains, or writing
Élise sponged the chalk marks off the blackboard after the lesson ended.
sponge [marks] off [surface]: remove by rubbing
The artist decided she did not like the colours and sponged them away.
Ishaan tried to sponge the coffee stain out of his shirt before the meeting started.
Ari sponged the old name off the envelope and wrote the new address.
文法句型
sponge [something] off [surface]
sponge [something] away
sponge [something] out
用法筆記
Often used with a particle like 'away', 'off', or 'out' to indicate the direction of removal. Can be used literally (sponge a mark off a wall) or metaphorically (sponge away bad memories, though this is literary).