spit

verb

/spɪt/

spit is also sometimes used for the past tense and past participle, especially in North American English

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they spit	/spɪt/ /spɪt/
he / she / it spits	/spɪts/ /spɪts/
past simple spat	/spæt/ /spæt/
past participle spat	/spæt/ /spæt/
(especially in North American English) past simple spit	/spɪt/ /spɪt/
(especially in North American English) past participle spit	/spɪt/ /spɪt/
-ing form spitting	/ˈspɪtɪŋ/ /ˈspɪtɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

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from mouth

[transitive] to force liquid, food, etc. out of your mouth

spit something (out) She took a mouthful of food and then suddenly spat it out.
spit something (from something) He was spitting blood from a badly cut lip.

[intransitive] to force saliva (= the liquid that is produced in the mouth) out of your mouth, often as a sign of anger or lack of respect

He coughed and spat.
spit at/on/in somebody/something The prisoners were spat on by their guards.
She spat in his face and went out.
A gang of youths swore and spat at officials outside the stadium.

say something angrily

[transitive] to say something in an angry or aggressive way

+ speech ‘You liar!’ she spat.
spit something (at somebody) He was dragged out of the court, spitting abuse at the judge and jury.

Topics Feelingsc2

of an animal

[intransitive] to make a short angry sound

Snakes spit and hiss when they are cornered.
The cat arched its back and spat at the dog.

of something cooking/burning

[intransitive] to make a noise and throw out fat, sparks, etc.

sausages spitting in the frying pan
The logs on the fire crackled and spat.

rain

[intransitive] (informal) (only used in the progressive tenses) when it is spitting, it is raining lightlyTopics Weatherc2

Word Originverb Old English spittan, of imitative origin.

Idioms

spit it out

(informal) usually used in orders to tell somebody to say something when they seem frightened or unwilling to speak
- If you've got something to say, spit it out!

spit venom/blood

to show that you are very angry; to speak in an angry way
- She looked at him with eyes that spat venom.
- She surveyed him coldly with eyes that spat venom.

within spitting distance (of something) (British English)

(also within touching distance British and North American English)

(also within shouting distance especially in North American English)

(informal) very close
- We live within spitting distance of the bus station.
- We came within touching distance of winning the cup.

spit

noun

/spɪt/

Idioms

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in/from mouth

[uncountable] the liquid that is produced in your mouth synonym saliva

[countable, usually singular] the act of spitting liquid or food out of your mouth

piece of land

enlarge image

[countable] a long, thin piece of land that sticks out into the sea, a lake, etc.

a spit of land between Lake Macquarie and the ocean

for cooking meat

[countable] a long, thin, straight piece of metal that you put through meat to hold and turn it while you cook it over a fire

chickens roasting on a spit

Word Originnoun senses 1 to 2 Old English spittan, of imitative origin. noun senses 3 to 4 Old English spitu, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch spit and German Spiess.

Idioms

spit and polish

(informal) careful and complete cleaning and polishing of something