There are several synonyms for the phrase "soaking up." One alternative phrase is "absorbing," which means taking in and fully understanding information. To "imbibe" means to take in knowledge or experience as if drinking it in. "Assimilating" refers to the process of taking in and understanding information, similar to absorbing. Another synonym for "soaking up" is "learning," which is the acquisition of knowledge, skills, or understanding through experience or study. "Digesting" information is also a synonym, which means to fully process and understand it. Finally, "taking in" is another phrase that can be used interchangeably with "soaking up".