Search from various English teachers...
Анна Тарасова
Hi! May someone explain me the difference between “it’s spitting” and “it’s drizzling”? The dictionary says they are synonymous but the task in my student book wants me to choose 🙂
Nov 12, 2021 3:41 PM
Answers · 5
2
For me drizzling is more continuous an a bit heavier than spitting.
You might say it's been drizzling all day, this is unlikely for spitting.
November 12, 2021
2
I'd agree that they are synonyms if we are talking about rain. Or at least there's enough flexibility about the exact meaning that most people would use them as synonyms. They both mean 'light rain', and I don't think people could define the exact amount of light rain involved.
As suggested in another answer "spitting" is British English. And "spitting" has a completely different meaning in other forms of English. It means deliberately ejecting saliva from the mouth.
So, if the context is something different (not rain) then the two words are not synonyms. For example to describe pouring a small amount of liquid over a cake then you would use "drizzling" and definitely not "spitting"!
So which is the correct answer?
Well, if you are communicating in international English (not BrEng) there is a risk that people will misunderstand, and so I guess it is possible to argue that "drizzling" is the better choice.
November 12, 2021
1
This content violates our Community Guidelines.
November 12, 2021
1
I use "it's drizzling" often.
I never say "It's spitting."
Perhaps that is a British expression.
удачи!
November 12, 2021
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Анна Тарасова
Language Skills
English, Russian
Learning Language
English
Articles You May Also Like

How to Ask for a Raise or Promotion in English
9 likes · 8 Comments

The Key to Learning a Language Faster
30 likes · 8 Comments

Why "General English" is Failing Your Career (An Engineer’s Perspective)
30 likes · 12 Comments
More articles
