spit it out

spit it out (third-person singular simple present spits it out, present participle spitting it out, simple past and past participle spat it out or spit it out)

1. (informal) To overcome reluctance to say something particular or to speak in general.

   – Sir, I ... I ... er ...
   – Come on man! Spit it out!

   • 1889, Anton Chekhov, Julius West (translator), The Proposal,

     CHUBUKOV. Oh, don't go round and round it, darling! Spit it out! Well?

     LOMOV. One moment ... this very minute. The fact is, I've come to ask the hand of your daughter, Natalya Stepanovna, in marriage.

   • 1906, Jack London, White Fang, Part 4, Chapter 5,

     "Well, don't be a miser with what you know," Scott said sharply, after waiting a suitable length of time. "Spit it out. What is it?"

   • 1920, Sabine Baring-Gould, Mehalah: a story of the salt marshes, Chapter XXII,

     "Hark ye, mistress," said the shepherd. "I've had much on my tongue this many a day, but you haven't given me the chance to spit it out. I won't be put off any longer."

• out with it (phrase)

• beat around the bush