sopping wet

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sopping wet" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a commonly used phrase to describe something or someone that is completely soaked through with water or another liquid. Example: After being caught in the rain, my clothes were sopping wet and I had to change into dry ones.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

It's sopping wet.

The New York Times - Books

Her sari was sopping wet.

The New York Times

Now his shoes were sopping wet.

The New Yorker

Her towel was lumped on the pool deck, sopping wet.

The New Yorker

One minute we're hot and dry, the next, sopping wet.

The Guardian - Travel

Ms. Upshaw ended the performance sopping wet and emotionally exhausted.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

"Friday, they were pulling out sopping-wet cartons.

The New York Times

"When is it sunny?" you ask beneath the hood of a sopping-wet sweatshirt.

The Washington Post

Then spread sopping-wet towels over the sides of the tub.

The Washington Post

Then he hauled out the heavy, sopping-wet shirt and slapped it on a table.

Forbes

After about an hour of sopping-wet misery, Chick-fil-A selected the "First 100" winners through a raffle drawing.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sopping wet" to vividly describe an extreme state of wetness, especially when emphasizing the heavy or unpleasant nature of the saturation. For example, after a sudden downpour, your clothes might be "sopping wet."

Common error

Avoid using "sopping wet" in highly formal or professional writing where a more neutral term like "thoroughly wet" or "saturated" might be more appropriate. The phrase can sometimes sound too informal or descriptive for certain audiences.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sopping wet" is as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate an extreme state of wetness. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is correct and appropriate for describing items saturated with liquid.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

12%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sopping wet" is a correct and commonly used adjective phrase that vividly describes something extremely wet. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is appropriate for various contexts, from describing clothes after a downpour to the state of a sponge. While it's generally considered neutral in register and suitable for news and general contexts, it may be too informal for some professional or academic settings. Alternatives such as "drenched" or "saturated" may be more fitting in those cases. As the examples analyzed by Ludwig demonstrate, "sopping wet" paints a clear picture of thorough saturation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drenched

Implies being thoroughly wet, often suggesting a recent and forceful wetting.

soaked through

Emphasizes that the wetness has penetrated completely.

saturated

Highlights the state of being completely filled with liquid.

waterlogged

Suggests an object is heavy and full of water, often to a detrimental extent.

dripping wet

Focuses on the water falling from the object due to excessive wetness.

sodden

Indicates a heavy and saturated state, often with a negative connotation.

awash

Implies being covered or flooded with water.

soak and wet

Highlights the soaking and wetting action.

wringing wet

Suggests the object is so wet that water can be squeezed out of it.

thoroughly wet

Emphasizes the completeness of the wetness.

FAQs

How can I use "sopping wet" in a sentence?

You can use "sopping wet" to describe something or someone extremely wet. For example, "After falling into the pool, he was "sopping wet"".

What are some alternatives to saying "sopping wet"?

Alternatives include "drenched", "soaked through", or "saturated", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "sopping wet" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "sopping wet" may be too informal for some formal writing contexts. Consider using a more neutral alternative like "thoroughly wet".

What is the difference between "sopping wet" and "dripping wet"?

"Sopping wet" implies a state of being completely saturated with liquid, while "dripping wet" specifically indicates that the liquid is falling off the object due to the saturation.