throw up the sponge Definition

sponge
noun

1. Any of several hundred different species of aquatic, usually marine, invertebrate primitive multicellular animals that consist of a large cluster of cells attached to a solid object such as a rock and which usually live in colonies.
2a. A piece of the soft porous skeleton of this animal which is capable of holding comparatively large amounts of water and which remains soft when wet, making it particularly suitable for washing, bathing, cleaning, etc;
2b. A piece of similarly absorbent synthetic material that is used in the same way.
3. Sponge cake or pudding.
4. A wipe with a cloth or sponge in order to clean something.

Example: gave the baby's face a quick sponge
5. colloq
Someone who regularly drinks a lot.

verb sponged, sponging

1. To wash or clean with a cloth or sponge and water.

Thesaurus: clean, wash, mop, wipe, wet.
2. To mop up.
3. colloq
To borrow money, etc from them, often without any intention of paying it back.
Thesaurus: leach, cadge, scrounge (slang), mooch (slang), bum (US slang), freeload (slang).
Form: sponge off someone (usually)
4. To survive by habitually imposing on someone else or others, expecting them to pay for things, etc.

Example: never works ‐ just sponges on his mates
Form: sponge on someone (usually)
5. To go fishing or diving for sponges.

Derivative: spongeable
adj

Idiom: throw in the sponge (throw up the sponge, throw in the towel)

See under towel.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon, from Greek spongia.

Phrasal Verb: sponge down

To clean something with a damp cloth or sponge.