spit (redirected from spitting blood)

be spitting 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 someone (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 someone

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

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

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

See also: distance, within

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: 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, 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. There are one or two spit-and-sawdust pubs in the town centre but nothing remotely trendy. (always before noun)