spit take: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, primarily used in entertainment, media analysis, and conversational contexts discussing humor or reactions.
Quick answer
What does “spit take” mean?
A comedic physical reaction where someone unexpectedly spits out a drink or food due to surprise, shock, or laughter.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A comedic physical reaction where someone unexpectedly spits out a drink or food due to surprise, shock, or laughter.
A visual gag used primarily in film, television, and theater to emphasize a character's extreme reaction to surprising information or an absurd situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used and understood identically in both varieties. The comedic device is equally prevalent in British and American visual comedy.
Connotations
Connotes slapstick, physical comedy, and often a break in composure. It's associated with classic sitcoms and farce.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to its common analysis as a 'comedy trope' in film/TV criticism.
Grammar
How to Use “spit take” in a Sentence
[Actor] does a spit take.[Statement] causes/elicits/triggers a spit take from [Actor].The scene featured a spit take by [Actor].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in film studies, media criticism, and performance analysis.
Everyday
Used when describing a funny reaction, often recounting a scene from a show or a personal anecdote.
Technical
A technical term in comedy writing and directing for a specific physical gag.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spit take”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spit take”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spit take”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He spit-taked' is non-standard). It's a noun: 'He did a spit take.'
- Confusing it with 'double take', which is a delayed, second look of surprise.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost exclusively a compound noun (e.g., 'do a spit take'). Using it as a verb ('He spit-taked') is highly informal and non-standard.
A 'spit take' is a physical, often messy, reaction involving ejecting liquid/food. A 'double take' is a facial expression/head movement where someone looks away and then quickly looks back in surprise, with no physical ejection.
Rarely. The term strongly implies a performed, theatrical, or scripted comedic reaction. A real-life surprise spit would usually just be described literally.
Informal. While it is a technical term within comedy and media studies, its use in general contexts is casual and conversational.
A comedic physical reaction where someone unexpectedly spits out a drink or food due to surprise, shock, or laughter.
Spit take: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspɪt ˌteɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspɪt ˌteɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone SPITting out their drink because they can't TAKE the surprising news.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PHYSICAL EJECTION IS AN UNCONTROLLABLE EMOTIONAL REACTION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'spit take' be MOST appropriately used?