Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To eject or expel something, such as food, liquid, or phlegm, from the mouth.
   • To say something in a sudden, forceful, and often angry or contemptuous manner.

Usage

• The verb "spit out" is used to describe the physical act of expelling something from the mouth. It is also used figuratively to describe speaking with strong, negative emotion.
• It is a separable phrasal verb. The object (what is being expelled or said) can often come between "spit" and "out" (e.g., ) or after the phrase (e.g., ).

Examples

• Physical expulsion:

  • The medicine tasted so awful that the child immediately spat it out.
  • He took a sip of the spoiled milk and spat it out in disgust.
  • The patient was coughing and spitting out phlegm.

• Verbal expulsion (figurative):

  • She spat out an insult before slamming the door.
  • He spat the words out with pure hatred.
  • "I never want to see you again!" he spat out.

Advanced Usage

• "spit it out": A common idiomatic imperative used to tell someone to say something they are hesitating to say.
  • Stop stuttering and just spit it out! What's the bad news?

Variants and Related Words

• Spit (verb): The base verb, meaning to eject saliva from the mouth.
• Spit up (phrasal verb): Often used for babies regurgitating a small amount of milk or food. It can be synonymous with "spit out" in the context of expelling something from the mouth, though "spit up" is gentler and more specific.
  • The baby spat up on his bib.

Synonyms

• Expectorate (formal): To cough or spit out phlegm from the lungs or throat.
• Eject: To force or throw something out.
• Blurt out: To say something suddenly and without thinking, often used for secrets or unexpected comments (less angry than "spit out").
• Snap: To say something quickly in an angry or irritated way.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Cough up: To expel something from the lungs or throat by coughing. It can also mean to reluctantly give money or information.
  • He finally coughed up the money he owed me.
• Blurt out: As above, to utter impulsively.

Related Idioms

• Spit feathers (UK informal): To be very thirsty or very angry.
• Spit nails (US informal): To be extremely angry.
  • He was spitting nails after he heard the accusation.

Verb

1. discharge (phlegm or sputum) from the lungs and out of the mouth
2. utter with anger or contempt
3. spit up in an explosive manner