Use 'soak up' when something literally absorbs liquid, like a towel.

Literal meaning

Some materials soak up liquids faster than others, like a sponge compared to wood.

Saturate quickly

'Soak up' suggests taking your time to enjoy something, like a warm day.

Implies fully experiencing a place or moment, often new or special.

Suggests a willingness and enthusiasm to learn, not just passive reception.

Conveys embracing knowledge with an open mind, more than superficially.

Refers to the demand for resources, often in a business or economic setting.

While it can imply strain, it may also suggest the absorption of excess, like idle resources.