# spit out

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to force something out of your mouth. You can also use this when you want someone to say something they are hesitating to say.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Spit out it!" but "Spit it out!" — when the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle in separable phrasal verbs.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.