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to sponge

to sponge

2 7.9
To get money, food, or help from others while giving nothing back
  • verb
  • /spʌndʒ/
  • Informal
translation icon : vivir a costa de
  • 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 mooch
vsto sponge
  • Informal
12 8.5

To ask others for food, money, or help and not pay for it

relies on others' generosity rather than only making requests
to leech
vsto sponge
  • Offensive
8 7.5

To take advantage of someone by always using their help or money without giving anything back

is about living off someone by repeatedly taking advantage of generosity
to cadge
vsto sponge
  • Informal
1 9.8

To ask someone for something and get it without paying

implies a longer pattern of relying on generosity rather than a single request
to grub
vsto sponge
  • UK
1 8.5

To ask for and take food or money from others without paying

covers taking a wider range of benefits, not only food
to bum
vsto sponge
  • Informal
1 7.5

To get something free by asking someone

involves continuous reliance on generosity, not casual free requests
to be a scanger
vsto sponge
  • Offensive
9.9

To take things from other people without giving anything back

describes living at another's expense as an ongoing state

Antonyms

883 2.7

To give money, help, or ideas to make something work

753 1.4

Give money or other help so a person can live and study

Idioms

To stop trying because it seems pointless

Phrasal Verbs

to sponge down
  • Informal
1 3.7

Clean a person or surface by rubbing with a wet cloth

1 3.7

To take liquid from a surface using something like a cloth

To rub a surface with a wet sponge to clean it

To put liquid or paint on a surface using a sponge

To remove liquid from a surface by wiping it with a cloth

Compounds

15 3.2

Washing the body with a wet cloth without using a shower or bath

7 1.8

A light, airy cake that uses eggs, flour and sugar without butter or oil

1 6.3

A natural pad of dried plant fibers from a luffa fruit used for washing skin or dishes

fun sponge
  • Offensive
7.8

A person who stops others from having fun by complaining

A rich sponge cake often served with a glass of wine

glass sponge
  • Specialized
8.8

A sea animal with a skeleton of thin glass-like threads that lives on the ocean floor

sponge filter
  • Specialized
3.0

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 mop with a soft sponge on a handle that soaks up water to clean floors

An edible mushroom with a cap of pits and ridges used in cooking

A mushroom you can eat with a soft, sponge-like head covered in pits and ridges

A small waterproof bag for carrying soap and toothpaste when travelling

A soft cloth that soaks up water for cleaning and drying surfaces

A light, soft cake flavored with vanilla

A plant fruit used as a natural bath sponge, like a loofah

A light cake made from two sponge layers sandwiched with jam and usually cream

How Exploitative

to leech
  • Offensive
8 7.5
to freeload
  • Informal
6 7.5
to sponge
  • Informal
2 7.9
to mooch
  • Informal
12 8.5
to live off
77 3.9

Surface Forms

sponge infinitive
spongeed past
spongeed past participle
spongeing present participle
sponges third person singular

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.