soak up
Like a sponge taking in water — but also used when you're really enjoying something and taking it all in.
Meanings
To absorb a liquid by drawing it in.
"She used a paper towel to soak up the spilled coffee."
To enjoy or experience something fully and with great pleasure, especially sunlight, atmosphere, or culture.
"We spent the afternoon on the beach soaking up the sun."
"I just want to soak up as much of this as I can."
— Oprah Winfrey, interview, The Oprah Winfrey Show
To learn or absorb information, knowledge, or skills eagerly and efficiently.
"Young children soak up new languages incredibly fast."
To use up a large amount of something, such as money, resources, or time.
"The repairs to the old building soaked up most of the charity's annual budget."
Very common in both literal and figurative contexts. The figurative use ('soak up the sun', 'soak up the atmosphere') is extremely frequent in informal speech and travel writing. Can be separated when the object is a noun.
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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