spit out
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English[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Audio (AU) (file)
Verb[edit]
spit out (third-person singular simple present spits out, present participle spitting out, simple past and past participle spat out or spit out)
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see spit, out.
- (transitive) To say reluctantly (see also spit it out).
- 1920, Sabine Baring-Gould, chapter XXII, in Mehalah: a story of the salt marshes:
- "Hark ye, mistress," said the shepherd. "I've had much on my tongue this many a day, but you haven't given me the chance to spit it out. I won't be put off any longer."
- (transitive) To rap; to repeat verses passionately or intensely.
- 1983 April 23, Ruth Borenstein, “Alive! Dazzles”, in Gay Community News, page 11:
- She spit the notes out so quickly, she might have given the fast talker in those Federal Express commercials a real run for his money.
- (transitive) To say scornfully.
- "You will die now!", he spat out.
- 2017 September 19, Gwilym Mumford, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle review – spy sequel reaches new heights of skyscraping silliness”, in the Guardian[1]:
- But, crucially, the visual wit that made the original feel so bracingly fresh is maintained, not to mention its fondness for turning the Savile Row air blue – if you’ve ever hoped to witness Elton John spitting out four-letter words like a Gatling gun, all while wearing a remarkable feathered suit, then this might be the gonzo spy caper for you.
- (transitive) To eject.
- My computer won't read this DVD. It just keeps spitting it out.
Usage notes[edit]
- Spit as the past form is common only in the US, while spat is common everywhere.