spitting image

spitting image

Meaning:

• look exactly like someone else
• precise resemblance
• person who strongly resembles another
• look extremely similar to someone

Example:

1. My sister is the spitting image of my mother.
2. You look the spitting image of your grandfather at your age.
3. The twins were spitting images of each other.
4. With the help of makeup and touch-up, the actor looked the spitting image of the real life character he played in the movie.
5. He looked the spitting image of his father.

Origin:
The phrase in this form was first seen in print in 1901. It is believed that the phrase originated from the idea of a person being so similar to another as if he was spit out of the mouth of the other. This idea was around since the 1600s, and had been used in different phrase forms since the 1800s.