spit out
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- discharge (phlegm or sputum) from the lungs and out of the mouth
- utter with anger or contempt
- spit up in an explosive manner