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(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
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(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
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Spitting Image (Origin)
What Is the Origin of the Saying "Spitting Image"?
The term "spitting image" means an exact likeness.
Examples of Use:
- You have your mum's nose, but you're the spitting image of your dad.
- You're the spitting image of Elton John. You could be a celebrity look-a-like.
- I'm the spitting image of my uncle, but I'm glad I'm nothing like him.
- "Poor child! he's as like his own dadda as if he were spit out of his mouth."
According to Google's Ngram Viewer, the term "spitting image" first appears in 1843, but it doesn't break into popular language until the 1920s. One of the earliest examples features in Alice Hegan Rice's 1901 book "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch":
- "Oh, yes," answered Mrs. Wiggs, complacently; "there wouldn't be no trouble 'bout Billy promotm'. I 'spect he could take to writin' newspapers right away, if you could hold him down to it. He's jes' like his pa-the very spittin' image of him! Mr. Wiggs was so educated-the most fluent man in jography I ever seen!"
Competing Theory
The term "spitting image" is a mispronunciation of "splitting image." This term describes the practice of creating a mirror image of wood grain by splitting it. It is a well-established decorative effect used by cabinet and musical-instrument makers.Competing Theory
"Spit and image" is a mispronunciation of "spirit and image," with "spirit" being another metonym for a copy of a person.Previous and Next Sayings
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