to sponge out
- phrasal verb
- /spʌndʒ aʊt/
:
absorber
- She used the sponge to sponge out the spilled juice from the table.
Examples
-
After washing the dishes, he had to sponge out the remaining water in the sink.
-
He squeezes the sponge out until it is clean, then puts it aside.
Fiction book (2000) -
To clean the floors, she decided to sponge out any dirt left on the surface.
Synonyms
28
2.0
To remove something from a surface by moving a cloth over it, like tears or dirt
13
2.6
To take in liquid completely like a sponge or cloth
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
4.1
To remove liquid by pressing a soft cloth or paper against a surface
4
2.1
To clean up liquid by using a soft thing that soaks it up
1
3.3
To absorb liquid using a sponge, cloth, or piece of bread
1
3.7
To take liquid from a surface using something like a cloth
1
3.7
Clean a person or surface by rubbing with a wet cloth
To rub a surface with a wet sponge to clean it
How Dry
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to absorb or remove liquid from a surface or container' is directly derivable from 'sponge' (to soak up liquids) combined with the particle 'out' (indicating removal from the interior). This verb+particle compositional pattern signals physical removal and is common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should understand the MWE.
Etymology
The verb sponge out comes from the simple image of using a sponge to pull liquid out of something. That action of pressing and lifting the sponge removes the water, so sponge out means 'to absorb or remove liquid'.