spit (redirected from spat)

*spit and image of someone and *the spitting image of someone

the very likeness of someone; a very close resemblence to someone. (*The second version is a frequent error. *Typically: be ~; look like ~.) John is the spit and image of his father. At first, I thought you were saying "spitting image."

See also: and, image

don't amount to a bucket of spit

Rur. is not worth anything. foe's a shiftless cuss. He don't amount to a bucket of spit. All your pretty promises don't amount to a bucket of spit.

See also: amount, bucket

mad enough to chew nails (and spit rivets) and angry enough to chew nails; mad enough to spit nails

Inf. Fig. very angry, as if to be able to bite through metal nails. I am mad enough to chew nails! Who took my checkbook? Her sudden tirade made him angry enough to chew nails. He stomped in, mad enough to chew nails and spit rivets.

See also: chew, enough, mad, nail

spit (up)on someone or something 

1. to eject spit onto someone or something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) The angry crowd spit on the convict. Don't spit on the sidewalk.

2. to spew spittle onto someone or something while talking. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) I always have a fear of accidentally spitting on someone in the first row while I am talking. I regret spitting on you, but it was an accident.

spit something in (to) something and spit something in

to expel something from the mouth into something. He spit his gum into the toilet. He opened the toilet and spit in his gum.

spit something on(to) something

to expel something from the mouth onto something. You shouldn't spit your gum onto the sidewalk! Don't spit your gum on the pavement.

spit something out 

1. Lit. to cast something from the mouth. The food was so terrible that I spit it out. I spit out the sweet potatoes.

2. Fig. to manage to say something. Come on! Say it! spit it out! spit it out! Get it said!

3. Fig. to say something scornfully. He spit out his words in utter derision. she spit out the most unpleasant string of curse words I have ever heard from anyone.

See also: out

spit something up

Euph. to vomit something. she almost spit her dinner up. Sally was afraid she was going to spit up her dinner.

See also: up

spit and polish

orderliness; ceremonial precision and orderliness. I like spit and polish. It comes from being in the military. There is no such thing as too much spit and polish.

See also: and, polish

spit at someone or something

to expectorate on someone or something or in the direction of someone or something. The angry crowd cursed and spit at the prisoner as he was being taken back to jail. Max actually spit at the police station door as he was dragged in.

spit up

Euph. to vomit. The food was so bad, she was afraid she would spit up. Mommy, I have to spit up!

See also: up

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be spitting in/into the wind  also be pissing in/into the wind (very informal)

to waste time trying to achieve something that cannot be achieved The government is spitting in the wind if they think a few regulations will stop multinational companies from avoiding tax. Trying to get a pay increase here is like pissing in the wind.

See also: wind

be the dead spit of somebody   (British)

to look very much like someone else He's the dead spit of this bloke I used to know.

See also: dead

be the spitting image of somebody

to look very much the same as someone else He's the spitting image of his father.

See in spitting distance, be spitting in the wind

See also: image

I could (just) spit!  (informal)

something that you say when you are very angry, usually because of something someone has done When I think of all the hours I put into that company and that's how they treat me. I could just spit!

See also: could

in/within spitting distance  also in/within striking distance

very close to something or someone (often + of ) The great thing about the house is that it's within spitting distance of the sea. The move to Ascot put us within striking distance of London.

See also: distance

spit and polish

cleaning and rubbing All it needed was a bit of spit and polish and we got it looking as good as new.

See also: and, polish

spit blood

to speak or behave in a way that shows you are very angry After her speech, people who she had criticized were spitting blood.

See also: blood

spit nails  (American & Australian informal) also spit chips/tacks (Australian informal)

to speak or behave in a way that shows you are very angry He was spitting nails when he saw what had happened to his car.

See also: nail

spit-and-sawdust  (British)

a spit-and-sawdust pub (= type of bar that is found in Britain) is dirty and untidy and is not modern or attractive (always before noun) There are one or two spit-and-sawdust pubs in the town centre but nothing remotely trendy.