Definition of SOP

Synonyms & Antonyms for sop

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Verb

Antonyms: Verb

Did You Know?

Noun

The etymology of sop takes us from bread to hellhounds to bribery. The journey starts over 900 years ago, when sop first referred to bread soaked in water, wine, or another liquid. Such soggy bread was considered a treat sure to tempt any appetite. Sops were considered so appealing that English translations of Virgil's Aeneid tell of a sibyl using one soaked in honey to distract and drug Cerberus, the three-headed watchdog of the gates of the underworld, so Aeneas could get by him safely. By the 1600s, that mythological use of sop had given rise to the expression give a sop to Cerberus, meaning "to bribe" and to using sop to refer to a bribe or conciliatory gift.

Examples of sop in a Sentence

Noun

as a sop to the teachers' union for supporting his reelection campaign, the mayor promised to push for the abolition of the residency requirement

Verb

sopped the sponge with the detergent and began scrubbing the floor vigorously my book fell in the swimming pool and was thoroughly sopped before I could fish it out

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

In announcing the sop, acting finance minister Piyush Goyal had, at the time, given a pass to the fiscal deficit, which in financial year 2019 ended up at 3.4%—higher than initial estimates. — Pramod Mathew, Quartz India, "In a quest to remain fiscally prudent, India’s budget stuck to the minimum," 6 July 2019 Natives eat doubles for breakfast and as a sop for alcohol at night. — Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, "Cane doubles the pleasures with chef-driven Caribbean cooking," 19 June 2019 In a sop to them, the cabinet has agreed to step up preparations for such an outcome. — The Economist, "Britain’s new Brexit plan is savaged—by its own Brexit secretary," 9 July 2018 In a sop to them, the cabinet has agreed to step up preparations for such an outcome. — The Economist, "Britain’s new Brexit plan is savaged—by its own Brexit secretary," 9 July 2018 In a sop to them, the cabinet has agreed to step up preparations for such an outcome. — The Economist, "Britain’s new Brexit plan is savaged—by its own Brexit secretary," 9 July 2018 In a sop to them, the cabinet has agreed to step up preparations for such an outcome. — The Economist, "Britain’s new Brexit plan is savaged—by its own Brexit secretary," 9 July 2018 In a sop to them, the cabinet has agreed to step up preparations for such an outcome. — The Economist, "Britain’s new Brexit plan is savaged—by its own Brexit secretary," 9 July 2018 In a sop to them, the cabinet has agreed to step up preparations for such an outcome. — The Economist, "Britain’s new Brexit plan is savaged—by its own Brexit secretary," 9 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Tampa Bay has the look of a pass-heavy team this year, and with the departures of Adam Humphries (76-816-5) and DeSean Jackson (41-774-4), the third-year WR is well-positioned to sop up work and soar over the 1,000-yard mark. — Des Bieler, The Denver Post, "The top fantasy football wide receivers to draft in 2019," 12 Aug. 2019 That doesn’t happen without Aldridge sopping up possessions, and in the process giving his team as many actual shots at the basket as possible. — Rob Mahoney, SI.com, "Top 100 NBA Players of 2020," 12 Sep. 2019 Since the 1970s, the oceans have sopped up more than 90 percent of all the excess heat energy trapped by CO2. — Alejandra Borunda, National Geographic, "Ocean warming, explained," 14 Aug. 2019 Our favorite dish was probably the currywurst, which is basically cut sausage doused in a bright, tomatoey, surprisingly spicy curry, served with little toasts for sopping up the sauce. — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, "Historic Yoerg is a nice fit for former Strip Club Meat and Fish building," 7 Aug. 2019 Now, alternatives for sopping sauces and holding sandwiches have given low-carb options new life. — Anne Marie Chaker, WSJ, "Family Dinner Is Now a Battle Over Carbohydrates," 10 July 2019 The featherlight mist, best applied directly into the roots and at the nape of the neck, sops up oil with green and brown algae, as well as tapioca starch. — Sarah Kinonen, Allure, "I Tried Selfcare, Lululemon's First-Ever Line of Beauty Products — Here's My Honest Review," 20 June 2019 Shower-Fresh Strands Are Made for Sculpting Jaws collectively dropped at first sight of Burberry's taut, sopping wet knots with baby hairs intricately gelled to the forehead in dizzying patterns by hairstylist Guido Palau. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "5 Beauty Trends That Swept the London Runways This Week," 20 Feb. 2019 At Burberry, taut, sopping-wet knots featured baby hairs gelled intricately to the forehead, while both JW Anderson and Richard Quinn put forth glassy, sculptural coifs. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "9 Beauty Trends That Blew Up on the Fall 2019 Runways," 8 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sop.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.