# What's the origin of "spitting image"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-spitting-image/121527>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [July 30, 2002, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-spitting-image/121527 "2002-07-30T13:48:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![zlm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6a8cbe/32.png) [@zlm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zlm)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-spitting-image/121527/1 "2002-07-30T13:48:40Z")

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Ken talks about the origin of “spitting image” [here](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mspittinimage.html).

I would like to add that there is a similar portuguese expression “cuspido e escarrado” that is used in the same way as “You are the very spit of your father”: “És o teu pai cuspido e escarrado”. The verbs “cuspir” and “escarrar” both mean “to spit”, but “escarrar” is muckier and much more disgusting. The meaning of the sentence above is someting like " You are your father [made by] spitting. "  
This expression is mostly used to point a resemblance between father and son, so I guess that what we are talking about is not spit, but semen.  
I hate smilies! :smack:

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2002, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-spitting-image/121527/2 "2002-07-30T17:40:37Z")

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Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, zlm, glad to have you here. And thanks for posting the link to the Staff Report!

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-spitting-image/121527/3 "2002-07-31T04:44:53Z")

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**zim** you might be interest to read a thread about this that was done previously.

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=110151&highlight=spitting+image](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=110151&highlight=spitting+image)