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so² conj 1 with the result that: It was dark, so I couldn't see what was happening. | She wrote a famous book, and so won a place in history. 2 therefore: I had a headache, so I went to bed. | I'm busy today, so can you come back tomorrow? 3 with the purpose (that): I packed him a little food so (that) he wouldn't get hungry. 4 (used at the beginning of a sentence) a) (with weak meaning): So here we are again. b) (to express discovery): So that's what you've been up to while I've been away! c) what if?; what does it matter that?: So, I made a mistake. It's not the end of the world! 5 so what? infml why is that important?; why should I care?: 'He says he doesn't like you.' 'So what?'
so³ adj [F] 1 in accordance with actual facts; true: That just isn't so. | Is that really so? 2 (used in place of an adjective already stated): Of all the careless people in the office no one is more so than Bill. | He's clever - probably too much so for his own good. 3 arranged exactly and tidily: If everything isn't just/exactly so he gets angry. ➔ see also SO-SO
so⁴, soh /səʊ/ also sol n [S;U] the fifth note in the SOL-FA musical SCALE
soak¹ /səʊk/ v 1 [I;T(in)] to (cause to) remain in or be completely covered by a liquid, especially so as to become soft or completely wet: Leave the dirty clothes to soak. | First, soak the beans in water for two hours. | a rag soaked in petrol ➔ see also SOAKED 2 [I+adv/prep; T usually pass.] (of a liquid) to enter (a solid) through the small openings of a surface: The ink had soaked through the thin paper onto the picture beneath. | a rain-soaked field 3 [T+obj+adv/prep, especially out] to remove by soaking: to soak out a stain | to soak a label off a jar 4 [T] infml derog to charge a very high amount of money to: They really soak the tourists in that restaurant.
soak sthg, ↔ up phr v [T] to draw in (a liquid) through a surface: He got out his handkerchief to soak up the blood. | The ground soaked up the rain. | (fig.) We sat on the beach soaking up the sun. | (fig.) to soak up information
soak² n 1 an act or state of soaking: I enjoy a good long soak in the bath after a hard day's work. 2 BrE humor deroga person who is often or usually drunk (especially in the phrase old soak)
soaked /səʊkt/ adj [F] 1 thoroughly wet, especially from rain; SODDEN: You poor thing, you're soaked to the skin. | Your clothes are soaked through! 2 [in/with] full of; steeped (STEEP) in: a place soaked in history
soak.ing /'səʊkɪŋ/ adv, adj very wet
'soaking so,lution n [C;U] a liquid into which one puts CONTACT LENSES when one is not wearing them
'so-and-,so n pl. so-and-sos 1 [U] someone or something; a certain one not named: Meetings are always like that, with so-and-so saying it's a splendid idea, so-and-so saying it'll never work. ➔ compare SUCH AND SUCH 2 [C] euph (used instead of a stronger word like BASTARD) an unpleasant, annoying etc, person: John's usually nice enough but he can be a (right) so-and-so at times.
soap¹ /səʊp/ n 1 [U] a usually solid substance that produces a LATHER (=soft white mass) when rubbed with water and is used for cleaning, especially the body: I never use soap on my face - it makes my skin too dry. | a bar/cake/tablet of soap in the soap dish | toilet soap (=with a pleasant smell, for washing the face and hands) | a box of soap flakes for washing clothes ➔ compare DETERGENT; see also SOFT SOAP 2 [C] infml SOAP OPERA
soap² v [T] to rub soap on or over: Will you soap my back for me? ➔ see also SOFT-SOAP
Soap, Joe /dʒəʊ/ BrE another name for JOE BLOGGS (=an ordinary man)
soap.box /'səʊpbɒks||-bɑːks/ n on/off one's soapbox infml stating/no longer stating one's strongly-held opinions loudly and forcefully: Whenever anyone mentions the subject of meat he gets on his soapbox and says how wicked and unhealthy meat-eating is.
soap,bubble n a ball of air enclosed by a thin skin of soap
soap dish n a small dish or container, put on a WASHBASIN into which soap is placed
soap.flakes /'səʊpfləks/ n [P] small thin pieces of soap used for washing delicate clothes
,soap-on-a-'rope n a piece of soap on a bit of string which one can hang up conveniently while having a SHOWER
'soap,opera also soap infml— n a television or radio programme about the continuing daily life and troubles of characters in it, which is broadcast regularly, e.g. two or three times a week, or sometimes every day ➔ compare HORSE OPERA; see also CORONATION STREET, DALLAS, EAST-ENDERS, NEIGHBOURS
CULTURAL NOTE In both the US and Britain there are soap operas that have been running for 20 years or more. Most people either like or strongly dislike soap operas. American soap operas are often about the lives of rich and GLAMOROUS people, but British soap operas are usually about more ordinary or WORKING-CLASS people, and often show the effects of various social problems on people's lives. Soap operas are normally based in a particular place or part of the country, for example EastEnders takes place in the East End of London and Coronation Street is set in an industrial city in Northern England. Some British people also like watching Australian soap operas such as NEIGHBOURS. People who like soap operas try to see every EPISODE and talk about what happened with their friends or at work the next day.
soap.stone /'səʊpstəʊn/ n [U] a soft stone that feels like soap, from which TALCUM POWDER is made
soap.suds /'səʊpsʌdz/ n [P] SUDS
soap.y /'səʊpi/ adj 1 containing or full of soap: Wash it well in soapy water. 2 like soap: This cheese has a rather soapy taste. 3 infml derog falsely or too pleasant; SLIMY —-iness n [U]
soar /sɔːr/ v [I] 1 a) to fly, especially at a great height without moving the wings: The eagles soared high above the valleys. b) (of a GLIDER) to fly on rising currents of warm air 2 to rise rapidly or to a very high level: The rocket soared into the sky. | The temperature soared to 80°. | soaring prices 3 [not in progressive forms] to be very high, especially so as to give one a feeling of splendid power: The cliffs soar 500 feet into the air.
sob¹/sɒb||sɑ:b/ v -bb- 1 [I;T+obj+adv/prep] to cry while making short bursts of sound as one breathes in, because of sadness or fear: A little girl was sitting sobbing. | She sobbed herself to sleep. (=sobbed until she fell asleep) | (infml) to sob one's heart out (=very strongly) 2 [T(out)] to say or tell while sobbing: He sobbed out the whole sad story. --bingly adv
sob² n an act or sound of sobbing: to let out a heavy protracted sob
S.O.B. /ˌes əʊ 'bi/ n taboo abbrev. for SON-OF-A-BITCH
so·ber¹ /'səʊbər/ adj 1. not under the influence of alcohol; not drunk: I've never seen him sober. ➔ compare DRUNK 2 rather fml thoughtful, serious, or solemn; not silly: On more sober reflection, I resolved to turn down the offer. 3 fml not decorative or brightly-coloured —-ly adv
sober² v [I;T(DOWN)] to make or become serious or thoughtful: She's sobered down a lot as she's got older. | a sobering thought/reminder
sober up phr v [I;T(= sober sbdy. ↔ up)] to make or become sober; get or be rid of the effect of alcohol: I hope this coffee will sober me up. | He sobered up enough to drive home.
So·bers, Sir Gar·y /'səubəz||-ərz, 'gæri/ (1936-) a CRICKETER from Barbados, who was a BATSMAN and a BOWLER. He played for the West Indies cricket team from 1952 to 1974, and is considered to be one of the greatest cricketers ever.
so·bri·e·ty /sə'braɪəti/ n [U] fml the state of being sober
so·bri·quet /'səubrikeı/ also soubriquet n lit an unofficial name or title; NICKNAME
'sob,story n infml derog a story intended to make the hearer or reader cry, feel pity, or feel sorry
Soc. written abbrev. for SOCIETY
so·ca /'səʊkə/ n [U] a style of popular music which combines SOUL MUSIC and CALYPSO
'so-called adj [A] often derog commonly called or named so, but often improperly or undeservedly: The so-called expert on international affairs turned out to be a young research student. | so-called Christians who show no love to anyone
soc·cer /'sɒkə ||'sa:-/ n [U] FOOTBALL
'soccer mom n AmE a mother who spends a lot of time