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sink in

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sink in

 

1. Lit. to sink, submerge, or descend into something. How long will it take the water to sink in? It might take days for the oil to sink in, so you have time to clean it up.

2. Fig. [for knowledge] to be understood. I heard what you said, but it took a while for it to sink in. I pay careful attention to everything I hear in calculus class, but it usually doesn't sink in.

See also: sink

sink something in (to) someone or something

 and sink something in 

1. Lit. to drive or push something into someone or something. The brave hero sank the wooden stake into the vampire. The hero sank in the stake.

2. Fig. to invest time or money in someone or something. (Sometimes implying that it was wasted.) You would not believe how much money I've sunk into that company! She sank in a lot of money, but it was all wasted.

See also: sink

sink in

Penetrate the mind, be absorbed, as in The news of the crash didn't sink in right away. [Late 1300s]

See also: sink

sink in

v.

1. To seep or soak; penetrate: When the floodwaters sink in, the ground will become soft.

2. To make an impression; become felt or understood: The meaning of the poem finally sank in after I had thought about it for a while.

See also: sink