spitting image

Questions

How do you pronounce spitting image?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈspɪtɪŋ ˈɪmɪdʒ/.

What does spitting image mean?

The exact likeness (of someone); a speaking or living image.

Where does spitting image come from?

An alteration of the earlier spitten image (see spitten). A popular folk etymology explains this phrase as deriving from the idea of a father spitting out a child whole from his mouth, as if giving birth. But spitten image actually developed from spit and image, where spit in this context means “likeness”. Terban further suggests a derivation of this sense of spit from the word spirit, but evidence for this is lacking. Another theory is that the idiom is Biblical, after an image of God spitting into dry earth to make the clay out of which Adam would be formed.

How to pronounce spitting image

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “spitting image”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈspɪtɪŋ ˈɪmɪdʒ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “spitting image”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “spitting image” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.