General
spit the dummy
What does spit the dummy mean?
To react with sudden petulant anger, as a baby spits out its dummy (pacifier).
"Don't spit the dummy just because you lost."
Origin
Australian idiom; 'dummy' is a baby's pacifier.
Frequently asked questions
What does spit the dummy mean?
It means to throw a tantrum or overreact with childish anger, like a baby spitting out its pacifier.
What is a dummy in Australian English?
A dummy is a baby's pacifier, so the image is of an infant angrily spitting it out.
How do you use spit the dummy in a sentence?
For example: 'He totally spat the dummy when the referee ruled against him.'
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
