spit the dummy
to suddenly become angry or upset
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spitalfields’ breakfast
At the East-end of London this is understood as consisting of a tight necktie and a short pipe. Amongst workmen it is usual to tighten the apron string when no dinner is at hand. Hunters and trappers always take in their belts when supplies are short. "An Irishman’s dinner" is a low East-end term, and means a smoke and a visit to the urinal. Sometimes the phrase is, "I’ll go out and count the railings," i.e., the park or area railings, mental instead of maxillary exercise.
spitfire
A passionate person.
spitting distance
very close to something
spitting image
someone's exact likeness or replica
Spittle Sermons
Sermons preached formerly on Easter Monday and Tuesday at St. Mary Spital, Spitalfields, in a pulpit erected expressly for the purpose. Subsequently they were given at St. Bride's, and later at Christchurch, New- gate Street. Ben Jonson alludes to them in his Underwoods, Ix.
spivias
amphetamine
splash
Complexion powder used by ladies to whiten their necks and faces. The finest rice flour, termed in France poudre de riz, is generally employed. See SLAP.
splash down
to land in water after being in space
splashed
Very drunk.
splendiferous
Sumptuous, first-rate. SPLENDACIOUS sometimes used with similar meanings.
splice
To marry; "and the two shall become one flesh."—Sea. Also, a wife.
splice the main brace
To take a drink.—Sea.
splice the mainbrace
to celebrate or reward with a drink, especially rum
spliced
Married: an allusion to joining two ropes ends by splicing. SEA TERM.
split
To leave.
split
To inform against one’s companions, to tell tales. "To SPLIT with a person," to cease acquaintanceship; to quarrel. Also to divide a bottle of aërated water; as, "two brandies and a soda SPLIT;" in which case "to SPLIT with" a person has a very different meaning from that just given.
split crow
The sign of the spread eagle, which being represented with two heads on one neck, gives it somewhat the appearance of being split.
split hairs
To argue or focus on trivial or unimportant details
split iron
The nick-name for a smith.
split on a rock
To fail or come to an end due to a major obstacle
split one's sides
To laugh extremely hard
split the baby
To divide something in a way that is unfair or impractical
split the breeze
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
split the difference
To compromise by accepting a middle value or position
split the sheets
To divorce.
split up
to separate or divide into parts
split-tail
A woman.
splodger
A lout, an awkward countryman.
splooge
Semen.
spock ears
Ears that are shaped like those of the Star Trek character Mr. Spock
spoffy
A bustling busybody is said to be SPOFFY.
spoil market
To create a situation where it's hard for others to sell something
spoil pudding
A parson who preaches long sermons, keeping his congregation in church till the puddings are overdone.
spoil somebody rotten
Treat someone excessively kindly or indulgently
spoil someone rotten
To treat someone extremely well and give them everything they want
spoil the market
To lower prices or reduce demand by oversupplying a product
spoiled grape juice
Wine.
Spoils System
The practice in the United States by which the victorious party in an election rewards its supporters by appointments to public office. Adopted and approved by Andrew Jackson at his election as President in 1829. "To the victors belong the spoils.
spoilt for choice
Having many attractive options to choose from
spondulicks
Money.
sponge
"to throw up the SPONGE," to submit, to give over the struggle,—from the practice of throwing up the SPONGE used to cleanse a combatant’s face at a prize-fight, as a signal that the side on which that particular SPONGE has been used has had enough—that the SPONGE is no longer required.
Sponging House
A house where persons arrested for debt were kept for twenty-four hours, before being sent to prison. They were generally kept by a bailiff, and the person lodged was "sponged'* of all his money before leaving.
spongy
Drunk.
Sponsored Programme
A wireless programme which is sponsored, i.e. chosen and paid for, by a commercial company, which utilizes a few moments at the beginning and the end of the programme for advertising its own product.
spoodge
Semi-liquid gunk.
spoof
Semen.
spooge
Semen.
spoon
Synonymous with SPOONEY. A SPOON has been defined to be "a thing that touches a lady’s lips without kissing them."
spoon bowl
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
spooney
(WHIP) Thin, haggard, like the shank of a spoon; also delicate, craving for something, longing for sweets. Avaricious. That tit is damned spooney. She's a spooney piece of goods. He's a spooney old fellow.
spooney
A weak-minded and foolish person, effeminate or fond; "to be SPOONEY on a girl," to be foolishly attached to one.
spoons
The condition of two persons who SPOON on each other, who are deeply in love. "I see, it’s a case of SPOONS with them," is a common phrase when lovers are mentioned.
sport
To exhibit, to wear, &c.,—a word which is made to do duty in a variety of senses, especially at the Universities.—See the Gradus ad Cantabrigiam. "To SPORT a new tile;" "to SPORT an Ægrotat" (i.e., a permission from the Dons to abstain from lectures, &c., on account of illness); "to SPORT one’s oak," to shut the outer door and exclude the public,—especially duns and boring acquaintances. Common also in the Inns of Court. See Notes and Queries, 2nd series, vol. viii. p.
spot
To mark, to recognise. Originally an Americanism, but now general. "I SPOTTED him (or it) at once."
spot check
To examine or inspect something randomly or briefly
spot of bother
A small problem or difficulty
spotted
To be known or marked by the police.
spout
"up the SPOUT," at the pawnbroker’s; SPOUTING, pawning. See POP for origin.
spouting
Theatrical declamation.
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