to sponge down
1
3.7
- phrasal verb
- /spʌndʒ daʊn/
- Informal
:
limpiar con esponja
- You should sponge down the car seats after a muddy trip to the park.
Examples
-
All you have to do is sponge down with a little kerosene.
-
After playtime, it's important to sponge down the toys to keep them clean.
-
Please sponge down the kitchen counters before we start cooking.
Synonyms
941
1.0
To clean something with water, often using soap
531
1.0
To clean and dry a surface by rubbing it with a cloth or your hand
83
1.0
To wash something with water to remove soap or dirt
37
1.0
To clean a floor with a long handle and wet cloth
31
1.0
To remove something from a surface by washing with water or soap
12
3.4
Spray water onto something with a long tube to clean or cool it
12
1.0
To rub a bar or liquid on your skin to clean it
10
1.6
To wash something with water to remove soap or dirt
8
1.3
To dry something by rubbing it with a cloth or paper
8
1.8
To clean a surface using a cloth or towel to remove a spill
5
2.6
To remove liquid or dirt from a floor with a cloth
4
2.1
To clean up liquid by using a soft thing that soaks it up
1
2.5
To remove dirt or stains by rubbing hard with a brush
1
4.1
To clean or massage a person's body by moving something over it
To rub a surface with a wet sponge to clean it
To clean dust and dirt from something using quick movements
To clean something using water to remove dirt or chemicals
How Thorough
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to wash or clean by rubbing with a wet sponge' is directly derivable from the verb 'sponge' (to clean with a sponge) combined with the particle 'down' indicating direction/completion. This verb+particle composition follows regular English patterns and would be immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
The phrasal verb sponge down comes from the simple action of using a wet sponge and moving it down over a surface or a person to wipe away dirt, sweat, or fever. So, it means 'to wash or clean by rubbing with a wet sponge'.