spitting
spitting — verb
- spittingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- spittings3rd person singular
- spittinging-ing form
- spittingedpast simple
1. to force liquid, especially saliva or other mouth fluid, out of your mouth, eith
to force liquid, especially saliva or other mouth fluid, out of your mouth, either deliberately or as a reflex
Sumin was fined for spitting on the pavement near the train station.
spit + on [surface] for location of spit
Bao spat the bitter medicine into the sink with a grimace.
spit + object + into [container]
A sign inside the bus clearly said "No spitting" in large red letters.
The old man kept spitting into his handkerchief during the long meeting.
"Stop spitting on the floor!" the cleaner shouted at the teenagers.
- expectorate
formal/medical term — used in clinical contexts, not everyday speech
- hawk
informal, describes clearing the throat with force before spitting
- dribble
describes saliva escaping unintentionally, not forced out
- swallow
the opposite action — taking liquid into the stomach instead of ejecting it
文法句型
spit + (on/at/into + noun phrase)
spit + object + (out/up)
用法筆記
Often used in signs and warnings. The base form is spit; spitting is the -ing form. Subject can be a person or an animal.
常見錯誤
2. to say something in a quick, angry, or contemptuous way, often with a sharp tone
to say something in a quick, angry, or contemptuous way, often with a sharp tone
"Get out of my house!" Talia spat at her brother in fury.
spat + direct speech + at [person]
Lucas spat out a curse when he hit his thumb with the hammer.
spat out + noun phrase (curse/insult)
"You know nothing about me," Amani spat, turning away from the table.
The driver spat angry words at the cyclist who had cut in front of him.
"Don't you dare touch that!" the old woman spat at the children.
- whisper
soft and gentle — the opposite of the forceful, angry tone of spitting words
文法句型
spit + direct speech quote
spit + (out) + noun phrase (words/curses/insults)
用法筆記
Always signals strong negative emotion — anger, hatred, or contempt. Frequently used with quoted speech or with an object like 'a curse', 'an insult'. Not used affectionately.
常見錯誤
3. when a hot surface like a frying pan, a flame, or sizzling food produces a serie
when a hot surface like a frying pan, a flame, or sizzling food produces a series of sharp popping sounds and sends small hot pieces or drops outward
The bacon was spitting in the hot pan, sending hot grease across the stove.
spitting in [container] + present continuous
A log in the fire spat sparks onto the rug near the fireplace.
spat + sparks + onto [surface]
Oil started spitting from the pan when Chiara dropped in the potatoes.
The wet wood in the campfire spat and crackled through the cold night.
文法句型
spit + (adverb of place/position)
spit + out + object (sparks, grease)
用法筆記
Subject is always a hot thing (oil, fat, fire, cooking food). Never used for boiling liquids. Can be used in continuous tenses.
常見錯誤
4. describes weather when rain or snow falls in very small amounts, with only scatt
describes weather when rain or snow falls in very small amounts, with only scattered drops or occasional light flakes
It had been spitting with rain all morning, so Omar took his umbrella to work.
it + had been spitting with rain
The grey sky began to spit with snow as Jude left the house.
it began to spit with snow
"Is it really raining?" "Just spitting a little — nothing serious."
Sari checked the sky and felt a few cold drops — it was spitting again.
- pour
to rain very heavily — the opposite of very light rain
文法句型
it is spitting (with rain/snow)
it spits (with + noun)
用法筆記
Only used impersonally with 'it' as the subject. More common in British English than American. When the precipitation is slightly heavier, use 'drizzle' for rain or 'flurry' for snow.
常見錯誤
spitting — noun
1. a slender metal spike that holds meat above a flame and allows you to rotate it
a slender metal spike that holds meat above a flame and allows you to rotate it for even cooking
The chef turned the spit slowly so that the meat cooked evenly.
turn the spit — typical verb + noun collocation
A whole pig was roasted on a large metal spit at the village festival.
roasted on a spit — common passive structure
They used an old iron spit to cook the chicken at the barbecue.
The lamb was skewered on a long spit above the glowing coals.
- skewer
a smaller, thinner rod used for smaller pieces of meat or vegetables, usually on a barbecue
- rotisserie rod
a modern electrical device with a rotating spit, common in ovens
文法句型
a/the spit
on a spit
turn the spit
用法筆記
The noun 'spit' (roasting rod) comes from Old English 'spitu' (a sharp stick), a different word from the verb 'to spit' (Old English 'spittan'). The two share the same modern spelling but are historically unrelated. The noun form is 'spit', not 'spitting'. The phrase 'on a spit' is the most common context for this sense.
常見錯誤
2. a long narrow area of land, usually made of sand or small stones, that sticks ou
a long narrow area of land, usually made of sand or small stones, that sticks out into a sea, lake, or river
The sandy spit stretched for miles into the calm blue water.
sandy spit — common adjective + noun
Eitan walked along the narrow spit that separated the lagoon from the ocean.
narrow spit — typical adjective
The fishing village stood at the end of a long gravel spit.
During low tide the spit was fully visible, covered in seabirds and shells.
文法句型
a/the spit + of + land/gravel/sand
a/the spit + extending into/separating
用法筆記
The noun 'spit' (a strip of land) developed from the cooking-rod sense (Old English 'spitu' = a sharp stick), extended by analogy to describe something long and narrow. It is NOT related to the verb 'to spit' (Old English 'spittan'). The noun form is 'spit', not 'spitting'. This is a geography term, not common in everyday conversation.
常見錯誤
3. the watery liquid produced in your mouth, especially when it has been expelled o
the watery liquid produced in your mouth, especially when it has been expelled or is visible outside the mouth
There was dried spit on the corner of the baby's mouth after its nap.
dried spit — typical adjective
Spit dripped from the dog's mouth as it panted in the heat.
The doctor took a sample of the patient's spit to test for infection.
Camila wiped the spit from the corner of her mouth after brushing her teeth.
文法句型
spit + on/from [location]
dried spit
用法筆記
The noun 'spit' (saliva) is related to the verb 'to spit' (Old English 'spittan') — both refer to mouth liquid. This is distinct from noun senses 1 and 2, which come from Old English 'spitu' (a rod). The noun form is 'spit', not 'spitting'. 'Spit' is more direct and less formal than 'saliva'. 'Spittle' is an older, less common variant.
常見錯誤
4. the action or act of forcing liquid, especially saliva, out of your mouth
the action or act of forcing liquid, especially saliva, out of your mouth
Spitting in public places is considered rude in many cultures around the world.
Spitting [gerund as subject] + is considered rude
The teacher told the class that spitting was not allowed in the playground.
Local laws ban spitting on the street to keep the city clean.
Ritu was embarrassed when her grandfather's loud spitting drew stares on the train.
- expectoration
the formal/medical term for the act of spitting; rarely used in daily conversation
- swallowing
the opposite action — taking in liquid as opposed to forcing it out
文法句型
spitting + is/are + [complement]
no spitting
用法筆記
This is the gerund form of the verb 'to spit' (Old English 'spittan'), used as a noun — so it matches the headword 'spitting' directly. Commonly appears in signs, rules, and prohibitions.