soaking
soaking — adjective
1. so wet that water is dripping off, usually because of rain or falling into water
so wet that water is dripping off, usually because of rain or falling into water.
Aarav came home soaking wet after walking through the storm.
intensifier: soaking wet
The towels were still soaking when Dahlia took them off the line.
My socks got soaking after I stepped in the deep puddle.
The campers' tents were soaking wet by the time the rain stopped.
Felipe wrung out his soaking shirt before hanging it near the fire.
文法句型
soaking wet
soaking + adjective
用法筆記
Almost always strengthens an idea of wetness, most often in the fixed phrase 'soaking wet'. Stronger than 'damp' or 'wet' on their own.
常見錯誤
soaking — verb
1. to stay under water or another liquid long enough to become very wet all the way
to stay under water or another liquid long enough to become very wet all the way through.
The dried beans need to soak in cold water overnight before cooking.
soak in [liquid] for the intransitive use
Mayumi let her tired feet soak in the warm bath for an hour.
Leave the dirty pan to soak in soapy water until the food loosens.
The old wooden boat soaked in the river and slowly grew heavier.
Tendai watched the tea bag soak in his cup until the water turned dark.
文法句型
soak in [liquid]
用法筆記
Subject is the thing getting wet, and the liquid follows 'in'. Distinguish from sense 2, where the subject is a person who puts something else into liquid.
常見錯誤
2. to make something completely wet, by putting it in liquid or by pouring liquid o
to make something completely wet, by putting it in liquid or by pouring liquid over it.
A sudden wave soaked the children playing at the edge of the sea.
transitive: soak + object
Cyrus soaked the sponge in clean water before wiping the table.
soak something in [liquid]
Heavy rain soaked the football pitch within just a few minutes.
Please soak the stained shirt in warm water before you wash it.
The burst pipe soaked the kitchen floor and ruined the rug.
文法句型
soak something
soak something in [liquid]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person, rain, or water that wets the object. Distinguish from sense 1, where the subject is the thing that becomes wet.
常見錯誤
3. if a liquid soaks somewhere, it slowly moves into or through a surface and sprea
if a liquid soaks somewhere, it slowly moves into or through a surface and spreads inside it.
The spilled wine soaked into the white carpet before Isabela could react.
soak into [surface]
Rainwater soaked through the old roof and dripped onto the desk.
soak through [barrier]
The oil from the chips soaked into the paper bag at once.
Blood from the cut soaked through the thin bandage on Marco's arm.
Water soaked into the dry soil and the wilting plants slowly revived.
文法句型
soak into something
soak through something
用法筆記
Subject is the liquid itself, and it almost always takes 'into' or 'through'. Distinguish from senses 1 and 2, where the focus is on the object getting wet rather than the liquid moving.
常見錯誤
4. if an idea or feeling soaks in, it slowly enters your mind and starts to change
if an idea or feeling soaks in, it slowly enters your mind and starts to change how you think or feel.
Élise sat quietly while the sad news slowly soaked into her thoughts.
figurative: soak into [the mind]
The teacher paused so the difficult idea could soak in before the test.
soak in for ideas settling in the mind
After the funeral, the loss took weeks to soak in for the whole family.
The coach's harsh words soaked into Henrik's mind for days afterward.
文法句型
soak in
soak into the mind
用法筆記
Used of ideas, news, or strong feelings reaching the mind, not of physical liquid. Often appears as 'soak in' when something finally registers emotionally.
常見錯誤
5. to draw a liquid inside itself, the way a cloth or sponge pulls in water until i
to draw a liquid inside itself, the way a cloth or sponge pulls in water until it can hold no more.
Dry bread soaks up the soup quickly, so serve it right away.
soak up [liquid]
Mauricio used a thick towel to soak up the water on the bathroom floor.
These cotton pads soak up nail polish remover better than tissue does.
The garden sponge soaks up rainwater and keeps the soil moist for days.
Jack tipped the pan so the rice would soak up the last of the sauce.
- repel
push liquid away instead of taking it in
文法句型
soak up something
用法筆記
Object is the liquid being absorbed, and the verb very often takes 'up'. The subject is a material that holds liquid, such as bread, cloth, or soil.
常見錯誤
6. to get a taste, colour, or substance out of something by leaving it in liquid fo
to get a taste, colour, or substance out of something by leaving it in liquid for a while.
Cooks soak the salt out of dried fish by leaving it in fresh water.
soak something out of [material]
Sora soaked the bitter taste out of the beans before adding them.
Leaving the herbs in oil soaks their flavour into the warm liquid.
The dye slowly soaks out of the cloth if you wash it in hot water.
文法句型
soak something out of [material]
用法筆記
Object is the substance being drawn out, often followed by 'out of'. Distinguish from sense 5, where the material takes liquid in rather than giving substance out.
常見錯誤
7. to drink far too much alcohol, often regularly and to the point of getting drunk
to drink far too much alcohol, often regularly and to the point of getting drunk.
The old sailor would soak in the harbour bar until closing time.
informal: soak meaning to drink heavily
Andrei spent the whole weekend soaking after losing his job at the dock.
The two friends soaked together every payday until the money ran out.
Neighbours said the lonely widower had been soaking for months.
文法句型
soak (alone)
用法筆記
Old-fashioned, disapproving slang for drinking too much alcohol. Rare in modern speech and used without an object.
常見錯誤
8. to make someone pay a price that is much higher than fair, especially because th
to make someone pay a price that is much higher than fair, especially because they have no choice.
The repair shop soaked tourists for double the normal price.
informal: soak someone for [amount]
Zola felt the hotel had soaked her family during the busy holiday week.
Critics said the new tax would soak ordinary working families the hardest.
The taxi driver tried to soak the visitors by taking a longer route.
- overcharge
neutral; make someone pay more than the proper price
- fleece
informal; cheat someone out of a lot of money
文法句型
soak someone (for [amount])
用法筆記
Informal and disapproving, mostly American. Object is the person being overcharged, often a customer with little choice.
常見錯誤
soaking — noun
1. a period of time during which something or someone stays in liquid to get clean,
a period of time during which something or someone stays in liquid to get clean, soft, or relaxed.
After the long hike, Sayaka enjoyed a hot soak in the bath.
a [type] soak as a noun
The burnt pot needs a long soak before anyone can scrub it clean.
give something a soak
A quick soak in cold water stops the cut vegetables from turning brown.
The dried mushrooms came back to life after an overnight soak.
Ilan gave the muddy boots a good soak in the bucket outside.
文法句型
a good soak
give something a soak
用法筆記
Countable; often follows an adjective like 'long', 'hot', or 'quick'. Distinguish from sense 2, which is the liquid itself rather than the act of soaking.
常見錯誤
2. the liquid that something has been left to sit in, kept or thrown away afterward
the liquid that something has been left to sit in, kept or thrown away afterwards.
Pour the bean soak down the sink and rinse them in fresh water.
the soak as the leftover liquid
Isabela saved the mushroom soak to add deep flavour to the soup.
The chickpea soak looked cloudy, so the cook threw it away.
Strain the herb soak before you stir it into the warm sauce.
文法句型
pour off the soak
用法筆記
Refers to the leftover liquid itself, common in cooking. Distinguish from sense 1, which is the act of soaking rather than the liquid used.
常見錯誤
3. a person who drinks too much alcohol, usually as a regular habit.
a person who drinks too much alcohol, usually as a regular habit.
The villagers called the old man a soak who spent every coin on whisky.
informal noun for a heavy drinker
Andrei worried about turning into a soak like his late uncle.
The play tells the story of a charming soak who loses everything.
Once a respected judge, he became a lonely soak after the scandal.
- teetotaller
a person who never drinks alcohol
文法句型
a hopeless soak
用法筆記
Old-fashioned, disapproving slang for a habitual heavy drinker. Countable and rare in modern speech.