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I don't think you are correct. Google ngram viewer supports the idea that any occurrence of the phrase 'sopping to' is so rare as to be probably an error. You

I don't think you are correct. Google ngram viewer supports the idea that any occurrence of the phrase 'sopping to' is so rare as to be probably an error. You can usually "sop up" == "soak up" something which leads to the common "sopping wet". You can also have a "sop" == "morsel". "Sopping to" makes no sense in English. Sources: google ngram, wiktionary, merriam-webster, concise oxford 1971

lazide 3y ago
And yet, you’re the only one complaining. Have fun!
- frabbit 3y ago
  Actually I was not complaining. I was trying to help: both you and anyone else reading that might believe your assertion that "sopping to" has the meaning you believe.
- vunderba 3y ago
  This is an oddly defensive response considering the time they took to etymologically dig into an expression that I and likely 99% of native English speakers have never encountered, despite your claims of it being a perfectly cromulent word.
lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
> "Sopping to" makes no sense in English. English definitions are descriptive instead of prescriptive. In this context, an English dictionary will describe how words are used in practice rather than prescribing how they should be used in theory. It stands to reason that English dictionaries are likely to have holes in their definitions, especially in cases where words are used in novel ways. It helps to keep in mind that a person’s written or spoken English is correct if other English speakers -- some, not all -- correctly interpret the words as having the communicator’s intended meaning. This particular case is just someone verbing with a noun, which is a common practice in informal English.
- frabbit 3y ago
  It helps to keep in mind that a person’s written or spoken English is correct if other English speakers -- some, not all -- correctly interpret the words as having the communicator’s intended meaning. I invite you to show any evidence that anyone else has ever used "sopping to" in this sense. That's exactly my point. In addition the "verbing with a noun" is a red-herring. Sopping has meanings related to being small or wet/absorbent. So, you could verb that noun all you wanted and succeed only in confusing your audience. That's the best thing to keep in mind: are you communicating or obfuscating.
  - lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
    Whatever floats your boat, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Think outside the box. (I’m not in a box, though...?) Not everything needs to be so literal.

lazide 3y ago

And yet, you’re the only one complaining. Have fun!

frabbit 3y ago
Actually I was not complaining. I was trying to help: both you and anyone else reading that might believe your assertion that "sopping to" has the meaning you believe.
vunderba 3y ago
This is an oddly defensive response considering the time they took to etymologically dig into an expression that I and likely 99% of native English speakers have never encountered, despite your claims of it being a perfectly cromulent word.

lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago

> "Sopping to" makes no sense in English. English definitions are descriptive instead of prescriptive. In this context, an English dictionary will describe how words are used in practice rather than prescribing how they should be used in theory. It stands to reason that English dictionaries are likely to have holes in their definitions, especially in cases where words are used in novel ways. It helps to keep in mind that a person’s written or spoken English is correct if other English speakers -- some, not all -- correctly interpret the words as having the communicator’s intended meaning. This particular case is just someone verbing with a noun, which is a common practice in informal English.

frabbit 3y ago
It helps to keep in mind that a person’s written or spoken English is correct if other English speakers -- some, not all -- correctly interpret the words as having the communicator’s intended meaning. I invite you to show any evidence that anyone else has ever used "sopping to" in this sense. That's exactly my point. In addition the "verbing with a noun" is a red-herring. Sopping has meanings related to being small or wet/absorbent. So, you could verb that noun all you wanted and succeed only in confusing your audience. That's the best thing to keep in mind: are you communicating or obfuscating.
- lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
  Whatever floats your boat, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Think outside the box. (I’m not in a box, though...?) Not everything needs to be so literal.