sponge out
The phrase "sponge out" is often used in both literal and figurative contexts to denote cleaning or removing something thoroughly.
Definition
B1Cleaning
(literal)To clean the inside of an object using a sponge.
Example
- She sponged out the inside of the refrigerator to remove the spills.
B1Cleaning
(literal)To absorb and remove liquid from a surface using a sponge.
Example
- He sponged out the excess water from the car seat.
B2Finance
(figurative)To eliminate debts completely.
Example
- The government decided to sponge out the old debts to give the economy a fresh start.
B2Emotional
(figurative)To clear emotional burdens or negative feelings.
Example
- She tried to sponge out the painful memories of the past.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "sponge out":
sponge upsponge downsponge bagsuck outsqueeze outdrain outbath spongescrub outslop outsponge citymud outswamp outwash outring outforce outwring outpump outfish outclean outrush outdab outhave outsqueeze one outpress outsub outsalt outbutter outsoak upcork outspark outpush outsweep outsuck the air out ofsugar outflush outsweat outfluff outbuff outsqueeze offcheese outdrink outsoak ingutter outspout out