Phrasal verb
spit out
Definition
phrasal verb. to force something out of your mouth. You can also use this when you want someone to say something they are hesitating to say.
phrasal verb. to eject something from the mouth using the tongue and breath; figuratively, to utter something reluctantly or under pressure. Transitive and separable.
Examples
“Spit out that gum before you go to class.”
“The toddler didn't like the taste of the broccoli and immediately spit it out onto his plate.”
“After a long silence, the witness finally spit out the truth, though his voice trembled with visible fear.”
Examples
simple
“Spit out that gum before you go to class.”
contextual
“The toddler didn't like the taste of the broccoli and immediately spit it out onto his plate.”
complex
“After a long silence, the witness finally spit out the truth, though his voice trembled with visible fear.”
Usage
often used as a command when someone is struggling to find the right words.
Teaching tip
contrast the literal physical action with the figurative imperative 'Spit it out!' used to encourage a hesitant speaker; note the irregular past tense 'spat' in British English versus 'spit' in American English.
Pitfall
Spit out it!
Spit it out!
when the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle in separable phrasal verbs.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
optional
Pattern
spit + out + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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