soap-suds

A child blows soap-suds into the air with a small plastic wand.

Definition

1. Noun (plural):
   • Foam formed by soap: "soap-suds" refers to the frothy, bubbly liquid produced when soap is mixed with water, typically used for washing or cleaning.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She rinsed the soap-suds from her hands after washing the dishes. (The foam from soap was removed with water.)
  • The children played in the bathtub, covered in soap-suds. (They enjoyed the bubbles created by soap in water.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be in soap-suds": metaphorically, to be in a state of confusion or trouble (archaic or informal).
  • He was in a real soap-suds after losing his keys. (He was very confused and upset.)

Variants and Related Words

• Suds (n, plural): a shortened form of "soap-suds," meaning the foam or bubbles from soapy water.

  • The washing machine was full of suds. (The machine contained soapy foam.)

• Soap (n): a substance used with water for washing and cleaning, made from fats and alkalis.

  • She bought a bar of soap for the bathroom. (A solid cleaning product.)

Synonyms

• Lather: a frothy mass formed by soap and water, especially when used for shaving or washing.
• Foam: a mass of small bubbles formed on or in a liquid, often from soap or agitation.

Related Idioms

• No suds, no success: a humorous saying implying that effective cleaning requires soapy water.
  • He scrubbed the pan for ten minutes, muttering, "No suds, no success." (He believed soap bubbles were necessary for cleaning.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Suds up: to create foam by mixing soap with water.
  • She sudsed up the sponge before washing the car. (She applied soap to make bubbles.)