be the spit of (one)

be the spit of (one)

To look exactly like or bear a very strong resemblance to one. Primarily heard in Ireland. Wow, you are just the spit of your mother! I was about to call you by her name. That guy over there is the spit of someone I went to secondary school with.

See also: of, spit

be the spit (or the dead spit) of

look exactly like. informal

The full form of the phrase is be the spit and image of , perhaps coming from the idea of a person apparently being formed from the spit of another, so great is the similarity between them. This fuller form also lies behind the expression spitting image .

See also: of, spit