spit-take

n. an exaggerated or surprised reaction in which someone violently expels a mouthful of liquid. Subjects: English, Entertainment, Movies, Television

Editorial Note: Thanks to Margaret Lethbridge Çejku for suggesting today’s entry.

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Citations: 1985 Joan E. Vadeboncoeur Syracuse Herald-Journal (New York) (July 18) “Success of two new comedies depends on Hanks” p. D8: Nor does he think the public can muster a chuckle for “Danny Thomas doing spit takes. We’re too jaded now.” 1987 Rob Lowing Sun-Herald (Sydney, Australia) (Dec. 6) “Mandy Patinkin And The Princess Bride” p. 128: At dinnertime, they had to bring in the “spit-take’ rule. Nobody was allowed to talk to someone else at the table if that person had food in his mouth because it more than likely they would choke to death laughing. 1989 Turk Pipkin Be a Clown!: The Complete Guide to Instant Clowning (Jan. 9) p. 50: Spit Take: Reaction to surprise news while drinking a glass of water was so perfected by one man that it will forever be known as the Danny Thomas Spit Take. At the dinner table, Danny’s reaction to any news he didn’t want to hear results in an immediate spray of whatever he was drinking. 1991 Jefferson Graham @ Beverly Hills, California USA Today (Feb. 1) “Thomas makes room in his schedule for ‘Nest’” p. 3D: Yet, “after all I’ve done, what I’m most remembered for is the spit- take.” That’s the point in Make Room for Daddy when [Danny] Thomas would be sipping coffee, somebody would say something surprising, and he would spit it out. 1991 Max Allan Collins Stolen Away (May 1) p. 42: “I admire men like you, Mr. Heller.” I almost did a spit take. “Me?” 2006 Kyle Smith New York Post (Oct. 5) “New Yorker Fest: Wit, Lit And Spit”: The seventh annual weekend festival, which opens tomorrow night and comprises more than 50 events, will include an encore interview of Jon Stewart by New Yorker Editor David Remnick to benefit the U.S.O. When he signed up for last year’s chat with Stewart, Remnick says, “I didn’t know people still did a spit take. But I asked him some idiotic questions, and I ended up with water all over my shirt.”

Posted 1 May 07 | Permalink | Tell a Friend