'Spongy' for 'parasite'?

[Mehrgan]

Hi all,
Is the word 'spongy' an informal term used to refer to a 'parasite'?



Thanks!

 

[SoothingDave]

No. "Spongy" means like a sponge. Meaning soft and soaks up water.

 

[spongie]

Thank you for defending me

 

[Mehrgan]

No. "Spongy" means like a sponge. Meaning soft and soaks up water.

Thanks! Actually it keeps coming to my mind that the word 'spongy' or 'sponge' must have such a meaning! :-(

 

[Mehrgan]

Thank you for defending me

Still I seem to have a thing for that word! ;-)

 

[5jj]

Unfortunately, I haven't time today to spend time on this, but you might try to find out something about:

X's mind/brain is like a sponge, ... (positive)
X is a sponger. (negative)
X is always spong(e)ing off me. (negative)

X is nothing but a leech. (negative)

 

[Tdol]

Sponge and sponger can be used in that way, but I haven't come across spongy with that meaning.

 

[BobK]

Sponge and sponger can be used in that way, but I haven't come across spongy with that meaning.

And a 'sponger' could be metaphorically referred to as a 'parasite', which justifies Mehrgan's msapprehension. But in the non-figurative world a sponge is not a parasite - though in a lifetime ot hundreds if not thousands of years, they host a few. ;-)

b

 

[Nersi]

you are probably referring to " a sponge " that figuratively means a person who lives off other people's means , Synonyms bloodsucker, freeloader, free rider, hanger-on, moocher, parasite, sponger

 

[BobSmith]

X is a sponger. (negative) AmE: I've never heard this usage, only "to sponge".

[Not a teacher]

 

[Tdol]

And a 'sponger' could be metaphorically referred to as a 'parasite', which justifies Mehrgan's msapprehension. But in the non-figurative world a sponge is not a parasite - though in a lifetime ot hundreds if not thousands of years, they host a few. ;-)

b

I assumed it was meant figuratively because the word was in inverted commas. ;-)