0 present participle of sponge --
1 to get money, food, etc. from other people, especially in order to live without working: --
sponging off the state
2 to rub something or someone with a wet sponge or cloth, especially to clean it, him, or her: --
They are not sponging on society.
The present travel restrictions on currency injure our prestige abroad because they lead us when we go abroad to the necessity of sponging on foreign friends.
He talked about the striker sponging on the taxpayer.
I do not call that "sponging" but pooling our resources after the cessation of hostilities in order to get the world on its feet again.
The other criticism relates to my reference to sponging.
There are far too many people sponging on the welfare services.
But it is true that we cannot go on "sponging" on our friends.
Far from employees, it will be employers who will be sponging off a dependency culture.
