to sponge
- verb
- /spʌndʒ/
- Informal
- It's not fair for her to sponge off her parents instead of finding a job.
- men who sponge off others
- sponge off women
Examples
-
So your tax dollars were used to build and maintain a website that teaches immigrants how to come into this country and sponge a living off of federal welfare programs paid for by your tax dollars.
Blog text (30) -
He often sponges off his friends when he runs out of money.
-
I sponge on him even worse than you.
-
I don't suppose you got a rich Uncle you can sponge off?
-
Just because they are brothers doesn't mean that one has to sponge off the other.
Blog text (7) -
After losing his job, he started to sponge off his older brother.
Synonyms
To ask others for food, money, or help and not pay for it
To take advantage of someone by always using their help or money without giving anything back
To ask someone for something and get it without paying
To ask for and take food or money from others without paying
To get something free by asking someone
To take things from other people without giving anything back
Antonyms
Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
A natural pad of dried plant fibers from a luffa fruit used for washing skin or dishes
- Specialized
A sea animal with a skeleton of thin glass-like threads that lives on the ocean floor
- Specialized
A soft sponge in a fish tank that traps dirt and adds air while letting good bacteria grow
A climbing plant whose young fruits are edible and whose dried mature fruit makes a natural sponge
A light cake made from two sponge layers sandwiched with jam and usually cream
How Exploitative
- Offensive
- Informal
- Informal
- Informal
Surface Forms
Etymology
The verb sponge (to get money or help from others) uses the image of a sponge that soaks up liquid. So when someone 'sponges' off friends, they are taking and 'soaking up' support without giving back.