Etymology Journal ยท W
Within spitting distance
Meaning
- A way to say something is extremely close or nearby. It implies you are so near to your destination that you could reach it with very little effort.
Folksy, blunt
Used in a sentence
- We are within spitting distance of the stadium now.
- The grocery store is within spitting distance of the apartment complex.
- My deadline is within spitting distance so I better get moving.
The backstory
This dates back to a time when men commonly chewed tobacco and would spit with practiced aim. It uses the range of a spit as a primitive, informal measurement of distance.
Heard in
Nationwide
Vibe check