spit out

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

spit out (third-person singular simple present spits out, present participle spitting out, simple past and past participle spat out or spit out)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see spit,‎ out.
2. (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."

3. (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.

4. (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.

5. (transitive) To eject.

   My computer won't read this DVD. It just keeps spitting it out.

Usage notes

• Spit as the past form is common only in the US, while spat is common everywhere.

Anagrams

• outspit, tip outs, utopist