# spit on

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spit-on
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to force liquid from your mouth onto someone or something, usually to show that you hate them or have no respect for them.

For teachers: to eject saliva from the mouth onto a target; frequently used figuratively to indicate extreme contempt or a total lack of respect for a person, law, or tradition.

## Examples

- The angry man spit on the ground.
- During the protest, a few people tried to spit on the police officers, which only made the situation worse.
- To ignore these safety regulations is to effectively spit on the memory of those who died to establish them.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He spit to the floor." but "He spit on the floor." — the verb requires the preposition 'on' to indicate the surface or target receiving the saliva.

## Usage notes

- takes a direct object representing the target; the past tense can be 'spit' or 'spat'.
- Teaching tip: highlight the difference between the literal physical act and the figurative meaning of showing deep disrespect; note that 'spat on' is the more common past tense in British English.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.