说起sponge，脑海中出现两幅画面，画面一——
《海绵宝宝》的片头曲，Sponge Bob, are you ready？
画面二——时间就像海绵里的水，只要愿挤，总还是有的。（鲁迅）
Time is like the water in a sponge; as long as you are willing to squeeze it, you will always have some.
想必你也猜到了，sponge的意思——
【释义1】n, （或天然或人造、擦洗物品用的）海绵块
牛津：a piece of artificial or natural material that is soft and light and full of holes and can hold water easily, used for washing or cleaning
【例句】
His mind was like a sponge, ready to absorb anything. 他的脑子跟海绵似的，什么都能吸收。
烘焙店里的经典款海绵蛋糕，英文就是sponge cake，或者直接说sponge
a light cake made from eggs, sugar and flour, with or without fat
海绵状的彩妆蛋，叫做makeup sponge
【释义2】v, 用湿布（或海绵）擦；揩拭
牛津：sb/yourself/sth (down)to wash sb/yourself/sth with a wet cloth or sponge
【例句】
If your child's temperature rises, sponge her down gently with tepid water. 如果你孩子的体温升高，用湿海绵沾温水轻轻地擦洗她。
【同义词】wipe
【释义3】v, 白要；白吃；揩油；蹭（饭等）
牛津：~ (off/on sb)( informal disapproving) to get money, food, etc. regularly from other people without doing anything for them or offering to pay
柯林斯：If you say that someone sponges off other people or sponges on them, you mean that they regularly get money from other people when they should be trying to support themselves.
【例句】
He spent his life sponging off his relatives. 他靠在众亲属那儿蹭吃蹭喝过了一辈子。
【同义词】scrounge
例句：He's always scrounging free meals off us. 他老来我们家蹭饭吃。
sponge的名词形式sponger，当然可以指"吃白食的人；揩油者，吃软饭的人"啦。
【牛津释义】a person who gets money, food, etc. from other people without doing anything for them or offering to pay
【今日翻译练习】
1. 把你的夹克脱下来，我要用海绵蘸上水把它擦一擦。
2. 他就应该找一份踏实的工作，不要再揩我们其他人的油了！
【参考翻译】
1. Take your jacket off and I'll sponge it down with water.
2. He should just get an honest job and stop sponging off the rest of us!
保持好奇心，每日，每月，每年，以求寸进。
Stay tuned
Wicky小巫
TEFL国际认证英语教师丨BEC高级
高等学校教师资格丨CICPA丨立刻说名师
曾在四大会计师事务所、知名房地产企业供职多年
曾供职于QS世界排行前60强大学
现转行专注于教育行业
终身学习实践者