spit take

American  

[spit-teyk] / ˈspɪtˌteɪk /

Or spit-take

noun

1. (in comedy) a sight gag in which an actor or comedian demonstrates surprise while drinking something by expelling a mouthful of the beverage in an exaggerated spray of liquid.

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Etymology

Origin of spit take

First recorded in 2000–05; spit ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “to eject from the mouth” + take ( def. ) (in the sense “physical response expressing total wonderment”), on the model of double take ( def. )

Example Sentences

I must have done a spit take and spilled my coffee.”

From Seattle Times

Long told Barrymore that he “cherished that time” they were together, and being the funny guy she knows him to be, got her to do a spit take while they reminisced about their old game nights and one particular competition with Quentin Tarantino.

From Los Angeles Times

A burn scalding enough to elicit its own spit take.

From Washington Post

Convinced that the “As It Was” singer spat in the lap of his co-star Pine during the movie’s premiere, eagle-eyed social media users with way too much time on their hands replayed a brief clip that showed the alleged spit take while Styles took his seat in the Sala Grande.

From Los Angeles Times

Asked if there had been a bidding war for his 1930s Wheeler Playmate — Ernest Hemingway famously owned one — Mr. Rhys laughed so hard that he did an actual spit take.

From New York Times