spat
B2Informal/Everyday for quarrel sense; Technical/Formal for shellfish sense.
Definition
Meaning
A short, petty quarrel or argument.
Refers to a past tense/participle of 'spit' (to eject saliva from the mouth); a type of short gaiter covering the instep and ankle; a young oyster or other bivalve ready for settlement; the spawn of shellfish.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary meaning is a minor, often temporary argument. It lacks the severity or intensity of a 'fight' or 'feud'. For the shellfish sense, it is specialized biological terminology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The quarrel sense is used in both. The past tense of 'spit' is more commonly 'spat' in UK English; US English may also use 'spit' (e.g., 'He spit out the food').
Connotations
A spat is seen as trivial, often childish, in both varieties.
Frequency
The quarrel sense is of moderate, similar frequency in both; the past tense form is standard in UK, variable in US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + have + a spat + (with/over/about)Subject + spat + (with) + Object + (over/about)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A storm in a teacup (similar triviality)”
- “Much ado about nothing”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The board members had a brief spat over the new budget allocations.'
Academic
'The scholarly spat over the attribution of the manuscript lasted for years.'
Everyday
'We had a little spat about whose turn it was to do the washing up.'
Technical
'The oyster spat were carefully transferred to the growing beds.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He spat out his chewing gum onto the pavement.
- The cat spat at the dog.
American English
- He spat/spit the tobacco juice into the cup.
- She spat out the words in anger.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A for quarrel sense. 'Spat' as an adjective is archaic/obsolete (e.g., 'spat points').
American English
- N/A for quarrel sense. Adjective use is similarly archaic.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children had a spat over a toy.
- He spat the water into the sink.
- Their public spat was all over the news.
- After tasting the sour milk, she spat it out immediately.
- The diplomatic spat between the two countries was resolved quietly.
- The boxer spat blood after the brutal punch.
- The intellectual spat amongst the critics revealed deep divisions in the field.
- The volcano spat ash and lava high into the atmosphere.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'spat' as a short, sharp exchange - like the sound 'spat!' it's quick and over fast.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARGUMENT IS PHYSICAL CONFLICT (a minor skirmish, not a full battle).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with the past of 'spit' (плевать) in non-quarrel contexts.
- Do not translate directly as 'ссора' which can be more serious; 'спор' is often too formal.
- The shellfish sense (молодь устриц) is highly specific.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'spat' for a serious conflict (use 'dispute', 'feud').
- Incorrectly conjugating 'spit' in US English ('He spat/spit').
- Spelling as 'spatt'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a meaning of 'spat'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, a spat is specifically a minor, petty, or trivial argument.
Yes, 'spat' is the standard past tense and past participle of 'spit' in UK English and common in US English, though 'spit' is also used in the US.
It is believed to be imitative, from the sound of a sharp, sudden dispute, possibly related to the verb 'spat' meaning to strike lightly (now rare).
It is used in marine biology, aquaculture, and fishing industries to refer to the spawn or young of oysters, clams, etc., when they settle and begin to develop a shell.