chew the meat and spit out the bones
To separate good or valuable information from that which is unsound or invalid. With so many manuscripts arriving daily, it's a challenge to chew the meat and spit out the bones. In the beginning, you'll probably need some guidance in discerning the truly exceptional manuscripts. Don't get hung up on outdated terminology in your studies—just chew the meat and spit out the bones. You don't have to agree everything I'm putting forth, just take what works for you and leave the rest. Chew the meat and spit out the bones, as it were.
eat the meat and spit out the bones
To separate good or valuable information from that which is unsound or invalid. With so many manuscripts arriving daily, it's a challenge to eat the meat and spit out the bones. In the beginning, you'll probably need some guidance in discerning the truly exceptional manuscripts. Don't get hung up on outdated terminology in your studies—just eat the meat and spit out the bones. You don't have to agree everything I'm putting forth, just take what works for you and leave the rest. Eat the meat and spit out the bones, as it were.
lovers' spat
An argument between two people who are romantically involved. Said especially of that which is relatively trivial. A: "So, why aren't they talking to each other?" B: "Some stupid lovers' spat, I think. Who knows." I don't think a lovers' spat here and there is any cause for concern. A relationship plagued by constant fighting, on the other hand, is something you should probably be worried about.
spit (out) the dummy
To have a childish overreaction or angry outburst to a negative situation or outcome; to act in a bad-tempered manner, likened to a temper tantrum of a child. "Dummy" here refers to a plastic teat used to soothe teething infants (also called a "pacifier" in the U.S. or a "soother" elsewhere), which they may spit when in the middle of a tantrum. Primarily heard in Australia. John spat the dummy when I told him I'd sold his old comic book collection. Don't go spitting out the dummy just because Cheryl got the promotion instead of you.
spit at (someone or something)
1. Literally, to propel saliva from one's mouth in the direction of someone or something. Someone in the crowd spat at the policeman as he tried to calm them down. We sat on the overpass, spitting at the cars driving underneath.
2. To treat someone or something with scorn, contempt, or disregard. I trusted you with my secrets, then you spit at me by going up on the witness stand to testify against me! I always feel like I need to go out and give 100% of my effort and energy whenever I perform on stage. Anything less, and it feels like I'm spitting at all the devoted fans who came to see me.
spit chips
slang To be loudly or vehemently angry. Primarily heard in Australia. Everyone's spitting chips over the recent tax law now, but in a month's time, no one will even remember that it happened.
spit in (one's) eye
To spitefully and deliberately insult or show contempt for someone. Many felt that the judge spat in the victim's eye by giving the perpetrator such a short prison sentence. Desperate to break free of their domineering influence, Samantha spat in her parents' eye by running away to live in a commune.
spit in (something)
1. To expel saliva or phlegm from one's mouth into something. This medication makes my mouth water uncontrollably, so I have to keep spitting in a cup. The man spat in my eye as I walked past.
2. To eject or expel an object from one's mouth into something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "spit" and "in." If you're going to spit your gum in one of the coffee cups, please don't just leave it there for someone else to clean up! He kept chewing sunflower seeds and spitting their shells in a plastic cup during the lecture.
spit in the eye of (someone)
To spitefully and deliberately insult or show contempt for someone. Many felt that the judge's extremely light prison sentence for the perpetrator spat in the eye of the victim. Desperate to break free of their domineering influence, Samantha spat in the eye of her parents by running away to live in a commune.
spit in(to) the wind
To do something totally pointless, fruitless, or futile; to waste one's time doing something that will not or cannot come to pass. To be perfectly honest, I feel like voting is just spitting in the wind, so I don't even bother. My mom and dad spent years spitting in the wind trying to get my brother to take his studies seriously; in the end, he dropped out anyway to pursue a career in music.
spit into (something)
1. To expel saliva or phlegm from one's mouth into something. This medication makes my mouth water uncontrollably, so I have to keep spitting into a cup. The man spat into my eye as I walked past.
2. To eject or expel an object from one's mouth into something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "spit" and "into." If you're going to spit your gum into one of the coffee cups, please don't just leave it there for someone else to clean up! He kept chewing sunflower seeds and spitting their shells into a plastic cup during the lecture.
spit it out
Stop stalling or stammering and just say what you want or intend to say. Just spit it out already—do you want to go to the dance with me or not? I wish I didn't get such a bad stutter when I'm nervous; I'd feel more confident if I could just spit it out.
spit on (someone or something)
1. To expel saliva or phlegm from one's mouth onto someone or something. I really wish you wouldn't spit on the ground like that—it's really gross! The man spat on me as I walked past.
2. To eject or expel an object from one's mouth onto someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "spit" and "on." Someone spat their gum on the ground, and it got stuck to the bottom of my sneaker! Make sure you don't talk with your mouth full—you don't want to spit food on your date!
spit onto (someone or something)
1. To expel saliva or phlegm from one's mouth onto someone or something. I really wish you wouldn't spit onto the ground like that—it's really gross! Two troublesome youths sat on the overpass, spitting onto the people walking below.
2. To eject or expel an object from one's mouth onto someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "spit" and "onto." Someone spat their gum onto the sidewalk, and it got stuck to the bottom of my sneaker! Make sure you don't talk with your mouth full—you don't want to spit food onto your date!
spit out
1. Literally, to forcefully expel something from one's mouth. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spit" and "out." Spit that out! Don't you know wild mushrooms can be poisonous? Our toddler keeps spitting out his vegetables.
2. To succeed in saying something, especially with difficulty. Often used in the imperative phrase "spit it out." I tried spitting an answer out, but my nervousness made me stutter too badly. Just spit it out already—do you want to go to the dance with me or not?
3. To say something in a very aggressive, forceful, or vitriolic manner. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "spit" and "out." The group of protestors continued to spit obscenities out at us as we made our way to the car. By the end of the debate, my opponent was reduced to spitting out absurd, unprovable accusations.
spit up
1. To vomit. Said especially of infants, in whom regurgitation of milk is a common and natural reflex. Here, you'll want this cloth on your should in case Mary spits up on you. Our baby has been spitting up so much recently that we're beginning to get worried.
2. To expel something out of one's mouth by vomiting or coughing. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "spit" and "up." I slapped him on the back and he spat up the chicken bone. The cat always makes the same horrible noise whenever it's about to spit its dinner back up.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.