sponge

A soft material with many small holes that holds water, or a piece of it used for cleaning.

• Clean the table with a sponge.
• She squeezed the water out of the sponge.
• These cushions contain thick layers of sponge.

Common phrases: wet sponge, kitchen sponge, sponge material

A simple sea animal with many tiny holes in its body, usually attached to a rock.

• A sponge grew on the rock.
• Divers photographed colourful sponges on the reef.
• This sponge filters tiny food particles from seawater.

Similar words: poriferan, porifer

Common phrases: sea sponge, marine sponge, living sponge

To depend unfairly on other people for money, food, or somewhere to live.

• Stop sponging off your friends.
• She accused him of sponging on the family.
• He sponged off us without ever offering to help.

How to use it: sponge off/on someone (He has been sponging off his parents for years.)

Similar words: freeload, mooch

Common phrases: sponge off someone, sponge on someone

To get something from another person without paying, often by taking advantage of their kindness.

• He managed to sponge a meal.
• She sponged a few pounds from a friend.
• They tried to sponge drinks off the other guests.

How to use it: sponge something from/off someone (He sponged a free lunch off his uncle.)

Similar words: scrounge, mooch, cadge

Common phrases: sponge a meal, sponge something from someone