spitting image

noun

plural spitting images

: someone or something that looks very much like someone or something else

Father then and son later are spitting images of each other.

—Norris McDonald

—usually singular

Naimah was brown-skinned, slender, and neighbors said she was the spitting image of her mother.

—Debbie Chocolate

… a lovely … Oscar de la Renta dress, which was the spitting image of a similar one the late royal had worn previously.

—Megan C. Hill

Synonyms

• alter ego
• carbon
• carbon copy
• clone
• counterpart
• doppelgänger
• doppelganger
• double
• duplicate
• duplication
• facsimile
• fetch
• image
• likeness
• look-alike
• match
• mirror image
• picture
• replica
• ringer
• spit
• twin

Examples of spitting image in a Sentence

with the help of either movie magic or makeup, the actress appeared to be the spitting image of the queen

Recent Examples on the Web

Moment The spitting image of her daughter Kaia while hosting a press conference to announce her line with JH Collectible Sportswear in 1990 in N.Y.C. 03 Oscar Worthy With then-husband Richard Gere at the 65th Academy Awards in Los Angeles in 1992. —Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023

There were around 10 baby sea stars, each the spitting image of their parent, which like many starfish was probably hermaphroditic. —Darren Incorvaia, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2023

Some schools like Dallas ISD’s Molina — whose logo mirrors the Jacksonville Jaguars’ — use a spitting image of another franchise’s logo. —Dallas News, 7 Nov. 2022

In fact, this bag is the spitting image of Blake Lively’s own favorite crossbody phone bag, but at a fraction of the price. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2023

State selling shipping containers used as border wall Goodyear residents voice concerns over McDonald's drive-thru Bolt: As cute as the cartoon and in need of foster home The spitting image of the cartoon pup he is named after, Bolt’s looks are certainly striking! —The Arizona Republic, 30 June 2023

The 30-year-old son of Caroline Kennedy and grandson of President John F. Kennedy looks the spitting image of his uncle John F. Kennedy Jr. in a series of photos posted Tuesday. —Tracey Harrington McCoy, Peoplemag, 31 May 2023

Now 16 years old, Kingston is the spitting image of his father. —Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2023

Perry even enlisted the help of a professional makeup artist to have prosthetics applied to her face to become the spitting image of the former Secretary of State. —Jacklyn Krol, Peoplemag, 30 Jan. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

alteration of spit and image

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

spitting image

noun

: perfect likeness