soak

B1 · Intermediate

v. to take in or suck up liquid, usually with 'up'.

v. to absorb or take in liquid through pores or interstices; frequently functions as a phrasal verb with 'up'.

“Use a paper towel to soak up the milk you spilled on the table.”

“The dry earth began to soak up the torrential rain, preventing the immediate runoff that usually leads to flash flooding.”

C1 · Advanced Informal

v. to make someone pay way too much money.

v. to overcharge or extort a large amount of money from a person or group.

“The local shops really soak the tourists during the high season.”

“Critics argued that the new tax policy was designed to soak the middle class while providing loopholes for the extremely wealthy.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. the act of leaving something in water for a while.

n. the act or process of immersing something in liquid for a period of time.

“After a long day of hiking, a hot soak in the tub felt amazing.”

“The recipe requires a twenty-minute soak in cold water to ensure the noodles reach the correct texture before frying.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun British English · Slang

n. a person who drinks too much alcohol very often.

n. a habitual or heavy drinker of alcoholic beverages.

“The old soak spent every afternoon at the corner pub.”

“He was known as a bit of an old soak, rarely seen without a glass of ale in his hand by mid-afternoon.”