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Teo Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
soaked, soaking
I know the distinction between interesting (exciting, surprising, boring ...) and interested (excited, surprised, bored ...).
But what's the difference between soaking and soaked?
That coat is soaked/soaking.
Your clothes are soaked/soaking.
But what's the difference between soaking and soaked?
That coat is soaked/soaking.
Your clothes are soaked/soaking.
Top answer
soaked=wet, saturated with water There is also soaking wet=very wet, dripping with water = soaking Function: adverb Etymology: from present participle of 1 soak : to a high degree : THOROUGHLY -- usually used in phrase soaking wet -----------
- soaked=wet, saturated with water There is also soaking wet=very wet, dripping with water = soaking Function: adverb Etymology: from present participle of 1 soak : to a high degree : THOROUGHLY -- usually used in phrase soaking wet -----------
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9 Answers
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soaked=wet, saturated with water
There is also soaking wet=very wet, dripping with water
=
soaking
Function: adverb
Etymology: from present participle of 1soak
: to a high degree :
There is also soaking wet=very wet, dripping with water
=
soaking
Function: adverb
Etymology: from present participle of 1soak
: to a high degree :
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Ah, I see, Teo.
Soaking (unlike interesting) can have both meanings - the thing that IS wet (your clothes are soaking wet) and the thing that MAKES you wet (a soaking spray). You would have to look at context - if the thing being described gives off water, then it's the "makes you wet" meaning.
Soaking (unlike interesting) can have both meanings - the thing that IS wet (your clothes are soaking wet) and the thing that MAKES you wet (a soaking spray). You would have to look at context - if the thing being described gives off water, then it's the "makes you wet" meaning.
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Any liquid applied in enough quantitity can make a thing soaking wet:-)
00
Okay, yes. If the thing gives off LIQUID (it doesn't have to be water).
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1. That coat is soaking wet--take it off.
2. We arrived home soaking wet.
3. That coat is soaking--take it off.
4. We arrived home soaking.
5. That coat is soaked--take it off.
6. We arrived home soaked.
Which of the above sentences is NOT acceptable?
2. We arrived home soaking wet.
3. That coat is soaking--take it off.
4. We arrived home soaking.
5. That coat is soaked--take it off.
6. We arrived home soaked.
Which of the above sentences is NOT acceptable?
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3 & 4 are the ones that don't fit - but everyone would know what you meant. That you/the coat were really wet. No would would think that you were giving off water like a hose.
A soaking rain (a rain heavy enough to really get into the soil) is one way to use "soaking."
A soaking rain (a rain heavy enough to really get into the soil) is one way to use "soaking."
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I am very confused because sentence #3 is quoted from Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, sixth edition.
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3 would be acceptable in British English. We recognise it as 'that coat is soaking (wet).
A common exclamation if someone comes in from the rain (very wet indeed) would be 'You're soaking!'
A common exclamation if someone comes in from the rain (very wet indeed) would be 'You're soaking!'
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