The biggest pre-election issue, Haredi sponging and shirking of military service, was captured by Yair Lapid.
We're sponging on your Uncle William, and I hate to think we're sponging on him.
You'd be afraid lest she should think you were sponging on her.
For I am just determined not to be sponging on you and Bruce if I can help it.
I found Susan sponging his shirt-front, and Susan and I are as good as engaged.
Mixed with water it is cooling and invigorating for sponging the body.
Daily sponging of the patient with tepid water (85 to 90 F.) should be practiced.
I'm to be a poor, crawling beggar, sponging for rum, when I might be rolling in a coach!
sponging all over with warm vinegar is also a most invigorating thing.
I am scared to death in that class, though of course that is no excuse for sponging.
Old English sponge, spunge, from Latin spongia "a sponge," also "sea animal from which a sponge comes," from Greek spongia, related to spongos "sponge," borrowed from an unknown source. The Latin word is the source of Old Saxon spunsia, Middle Dutch spongie, Old French esponge, Spanish esponja, Italian spugna. To throw in the sponge "quit, submit" (1860) is from prizefighting, in reference to the sponges used to cleanse the faces of combatants between rounds (cf. later throw in the towel). Sponge-cake is attested from 1808.
late 14c., "to soak up with a sponge," from sponge (n.). The slang sense of "to live in a parasitic manner" is attested from 1670s; sponger (n.) in this sense is from 1670s. Originally it was the victim who was known as the sponge (c.1600), because he or she was being "squeezed." Related: Sponged; sponging.
sponge (spŭnj)
n.
Any of numerous aquatic invertebrate animals of the phylum Porifera.
The light, fibrous, absorbent skeleton of certain of these organisms.
A piece of absorbent porous material, such as cellulose, plastic, or rubber, used especially for washing and cleaning.
A gauze pad used to absorb blood and other fluids, as in surgery or in dressing a wound.
A contraceptive sponge.
sponge
|
noun
verb
: We were able to sponge lots of meals off his parents (1676+)
Related Terms