spitting distance



spitting distance

A very short distance, as in We were in spitting distance of winning the pennant but then we lost three games in a row . Alluding to the relatively short distance over which one's spit will carry, this idiom was first recorded in 1895 as within spitting range.
See also: distance, spit

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
EgbertEG-bərt (English), EKH-bərt (Dutch)English, Dutch
Foka-Russian
Colomba-Italian
Norbertonor-BER-to (Spanish, Italian)Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
Lashonda-African American
GinnieJIN-eeEnglish