Why do people call look-a-likes a "spitting" image?

Question

Or as we here is southern Indiana call them: "A spittin' image."

Answer 1

But the phrase is definitely "spitting image" or "spittin' image," meaning "exact likeness" and it's based on an earlier form, "spit and image," which first appeared around 1859 Just where the phrase came from and exactly what it means, however, is hotly debated in etymological circles.

Most authorities accept the "spit" element of the phrase at face value, and maintain that it is a remarkably inelegant metaphor for similarity: "just as if one person were spit out of another's mouth." A similar saying in French, "C'est son pere tout crache" ("He is his father's spit and image"), lends support to this theory, as do earlier English sayings with the same meaning, such as "the very spit of," which appeared around 1825.

The late poet and etymologist John Ciardi, however, maintained that "black magic" lay at the root of the phrase. Armed with a sample of someone's saliva ("spit") and a doll made to resemble the person ("image"), goes the theory, a sorcerer could cast all sorts of evil spells on the hapless victim.

Yet another theory regards "spit" as a shortened form of "spirit," but there is no real evidence for this, and it sounds to me like another "folk etymology" effort to make a very weird phrase slightly less weird.

Answer 2

Here's one possible reason found on the web using google and "word origin spitting image" as search term:

There are several false explanations circulating about this phrase, probably because the metaphor is not an obvious one. One is that it is a corruption of spirit and image, from the belief that people who looked alike shared a soul. Another is that it is a corruption of splitting image, referring to a person being split into two identical persons. Both of these are incorrect. They are after-the-fact explanations that are not supported by evidence. Instead, the spit is just that, saliva.

The metaphor at work is that of a person spitting out an exact replica of themself. Spitting image dates to 1901. Spitten picture is a bit earlier, dating to 1878. The very spit of is even older, dating to 1825. And use of the metaphor of fathers spitting out look-alike sons dates to at least 1400.

Answer 3

We often say that someone's child looks like "they spit them right out of their mouth". Spitting image is just a shortcut for that.

Answer 4

"image of God" potential people have a likeness to God, to a small degree. people communicate with written & spoken words, understand mathematices, manufacture issues, fly area craft to the moon, etc. in worry-free words people can do this stuff, because in worry-free words people are made in only like God. all the different animals are in a diverse classification.

Answer 5

Besides a twin.. check out the meaning of a Doppleganger! It is a person appearing to be exactly like someone else in looks. It happens more than you think. Go to 'google' and type in Doppleganger. You will be amazed at what you find out.
Best wishes,
M.M.

Answer 6

I might put my foot in my mouth but i thought the expression was splitting image not spitting image.

Answer 7

wow, you want to know the meaning and there are people who don't even know the term. Its SPITTING image, not SPLITTING image.

Answer 8

i believe that the reason is because the term is "splitting" image as in a mirror splitting the object from its reflection.

i can image that the term loses something in the slang accencts of diffrent regions.

Answer 9

I think because it can be so shocking it makes you spit.

I looked it up and I was wrong:

"The metaphor at work is that of a person spitting out an exact replica of themself."

Answer 10

Easy.If you spit it drops right back into your mouth.Better for water restrictions...