Spitting Image
The return of my evil twin sister!
Arrgghh! Though people say we are the spitting image of each other!
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Posted on March 27, 2008 · Filed Under Lessons
hey what is the origen of the words “sex” and “sexy”.
argg… “doppelganger” playing Magic the Gathering finally paid off!!
I think it is splitting image
how about the phrase blow job? i have all ways wondered how that came to be so if you can make a video teaching me, thanks
I think that it is theory one. It seems to be the one that makes the most sense
I’m going with number 2 - identical twins are also formed by splitting a cell.
And while I’m waiting on my earlier word requests, another request: what is the origin of the word breakfast? Is it contradictory if I eat slowfood for breakfast?
This has nothing to do with quickly and slowly.
Fast also means to abstain from eating, as in Lent, Ramadan and hunger strike.
Normally, humans start to feel hungry and have to eat after a maximum of four hours from the last meal, but when sleeping overnight they go for at least nine or ten hours without eating so they are effectively fasting overnight and the first meal of the new day breaks that fast, hence break-fast.
Funny thing, ’split’ image crossed my mind when I first opened this lesson so I must go with the answer that it’s from, “splitting Image”.
Darnko
are purple and violet the same color
and if so where did we get violet from?
Hi Marina
i was wanting to know the history of the word OBITUARY and also to go along with that word MORBID thks
Theory number 3. We’ve got the same expression in italy, and the ittalian for spit doesn’t sound like the italian for split, nor spirit. So… it MUST be n°3. This time i’m sure!
Theory No 1.
Just for fun, I looked up “schmo” (schmoe). The origin is given as unknown. Apparently coined in 1947. It means an annoyingy stupid or foolish person (synonym of jerk). At first, I assumed that in the expression “holy schmoly,” the “ly” was added for alliterative purposes, and I wondered how “holy” got hooked up with “schmo” in the first place. Then I happened upon the dictionary entry for the prefix “schm-” (shm-). It comes from Yiddish “shm-” and is “used to form a rhyming term of derision by replacing the initial consonant or consonant cluster of a word or by preceding the initial vowel.” The example provided is fancy schmancy. I guess this second entry is the good one behind the explanation of holy schmoly. I would assume that “shimoly” is a spelling variation. I’m such a schmart ass!
Holy shimoly ….this stream is all over the place……
To stay with the homework assigned….Therory #1 has got to be the winner.
Hi Marina,
I was wondering if you know where the word tomfoolery comes from ?
Regards
Joe
Hi I was wondering… When ever I go to a restaurant I have to wait to be seated, then wait for the waiter or waitress who by the refer to their profession as waiting on tables. So, Is there a connection between waiters and waiting? If you think about it the waiters really don’t wait that much… I do. Anyway I am curious about that. Take care bye,bye.
i want to know the words ending in -gry are… angry, hungry and idc wat is d other one…tnx marina
the word i would like to know about is “fuck”
now i am not trying to be a smart ass or anything but someone told me it not a curse word but means “fornicating under the kings consent” like it was an acronym, or something. could you clarify? thanks,
A picture would be worth a thousand words on this one.
I’ve always used the phrase “splitting image” so my bad for not Knowing yet it had morphed to spitting with the lost “L”. #2 didn’t cheat & I feel old enough to have beem around when the Phrase was coined.
My mom is still with us & so is her twin & they still compete with each other, almost bitterly sometimes, but share a bond that is closer than other siblings. They were kept warm as little babys in the bread warmer above the stove in the bitterly cold Sasketchewan winter. I’m sure Marina has a bond that is as close that comes across as sibling rivalry in the vids’.
I paused the video @ 2:16 to get the phone @ was intimidated when I came back to the computer. Marina’s brotther could look like that ?
Anyways Marina shatters the myth of “blond means dumb”.
This otta’ shatter the “lacking social concscience” myth .
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=NutBawnYtlw
I’ll go with #3. That’s the only one I ever heard used
I vote for number two. It makes the most sense and sounds the most like “spitting image”.
whats the origin of the word awesome?
thx!
okay, what does femme fatale mean?
That’s an easy one. But I’d like to direct your attenton instead to a film by Brian De Palma entitled “Femme Fatale.” It’s a great film with a controversial ending (but I love it!).
shalom hotforwords I’m a new student I would like to know were the wild goose chase comes from.
….or more importanty, where the wild goose chase is going!
In college English almost 40 years ago we were told it comes from “spirit and image” by people who really took English scholarship seriously.
I should have added that what it means is that someone not only LOOKS like someone else, usually a father, but also ACTS like him. His image (appearance) is the same and so his his spirit (character and personality).
I would like to know the history of the word “WELCOME”. Is it simply a shortened version of “Well, come on in”?
Also, is the correct answer to the “Spitting Image” game the first choice of “Spirit and Image”? Lemme know please.
Keep up the good work, Marina. You’re helping me get a brain better than the wizard ever did.
Love your videos. Very smart, and super sexy. I think the answer to spitting image is number 3, but 2 sounds like a possibility. Hey, could you research the word “hodgepodge”? Thanks. Mmmmwwaaa.
Hi HotForWords!!!
I’d like to request the word ‘ambidextrous’, thanks so much!
Ashley
BTW, the astronauts just installed DEXTRE the robot on the ISS. I wonder if he’s ambi?
I’ll add my name to this request.
Why Ambi- …
Ambidextrous, Ambiguous but only Bisextile and Bisexual.
Also, Dextre must have an evil twin called Sinistre so, is a person with “two left feet” ambisinistrous?
I like theory #1. the other two seem a bit too far fetched for me.
Great maxim show and Great lesson 5 stars to each.
Answer— I think its # 3
SPIT AND IMAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Marina! I LOVE your videos! They’re ALOT of help with my language.
I was wondering…
If you could figure out where the word ” guile ” came from.
Im very confused about this word and I DO NOT know anything about this word. I am VERY curious. My youtube name is Delana1347 and I am a current suscriber of you! Yay!
Thanks for all your help,
Delana1347
( You pronounce Delana as Duh - Lane - Uh )
There ya go
Hello there Hotforwords!
Love the videos, I have a word request for you!
PETTIFOGGER: It means a petty, unscrupulous lawyer; also, who quibbles over trivia.
I was wondering how this word came about.
Thanks a bunch!
MiLea
I hope Marina does this one, because I haven’t the foggiest.
I would love to know the etymology of the words Heaven and Hell.
I have always been fascinated by words and their origins, and when I discovered your YouTube channel, it fueled my hobby even more. I am appreciative that there are other people who are passionate about words too. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world.
Вы также красивы
Hell, yes! Heaven can wait.
Where did the word procrastination originate from?
I have a video response as well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw1v8I_QPeA
I’m portuguese, i’m curious about the word ‘Iberia’…
Iberia
1. The region of Europe south of the Pyrenees, consisting of Andorra, Spain, Portugal, and Gibraltar.
But where did this word come from?
Dear Marina,
Hope all is well. Please investigate the word “Candy Cake” I have a birthday coming up.
Many thanks,
jeffinboulder
hey hfw, where did the term “the whole 9 yads” originate from?
does it come from WW1 airplan gunners using about 9 yards of ammo at a time.
excuse the type O, I ment yards not yads.
I’ll excuse your misspelling But why should I excuse your blood type?
If no one can answer this, perhaps we can do a lesson on why “Yours truly” means “myself”.
Dear teacher,
What is the origin of “feckless”? Or…what is the feck of
feckless?
It’s a mispronounciation of “effectless,” a synonym “ineffective.” Your feckless nebbish is the nephew or son-in-law that you hire to give your daughter and her children an income because her husband would never succeed on his own.
i think it is #3 form fireduck01
sex,penius,vagina
Where did Therese orgin from or does it have any meaning?
Orgasm is a wonderful WORD to tell about it’s origin!I know the origin of it but still!Будет интересно узнать точное от тебя!
why don’t you investigate the word
to investigate/ investigation 
Here is a tough word that truelly would be a task for you to even find. Any way the word is “Mogwai”. If you can’t think of where these might of possible came from, here is a terrible clue. Think of “Gizmo”? eh enjoy that one!
Hmm, the second i reckon.
The origin of the word ‘mercy’, obviously related to the French ‘merci’, but why / how?
Good skills BTW!
An old meaning of “merci” is grace or pity, as in “at the mercy of God.” (à la merci de Dieu), or “to cry uncle” (crier merci).
I think it’s theory number 3.
I’ve always wanted to know about the origin of the phrase “Put up your dukes” to refer to boxing or fisticuffs.
Hello Hot for words,
where did the word melancholy come from? Peace love and thank you for the HOT website.You are one hotty for sure
I heard that if you crossed Lassie with a watermelon, you got a melancholy baby.
i would like to know the origin of sarchofagus
I looked up sarcophagus, and it has very amusing roots. Rather than provide the answer, I think I’l just second the motion, and ask that Marina do this one. I assume you misspelled the word, motoslau, but I actually like the “look” of your spelling. By the way, I saw a whiteboard this past week on which an English teacher spelled “misspelling” with just one s–boy was I tempted to write a nasty note! How can a teacher misspell misspelling???
sorry if i misspeled it or anything but i’m romanian so i’m not that good at spelling still i hope marina is gonna tell me this one:)
can i request for the word “Biotic”, thanks alot!
LilJrPat
Or even antibiotic, for that matter. Check out the Greek word biotos, which means “life.”
I would guess option 3.
Dear Teacher, could you us the where the phrase “The Bee’s Knees” comes from? Commonly used when something is clever or keen as in “Well isn’t that just the bee’s knees.”
Thanks
Your devouted student
Archbishop Billy
My grandmother used to say, “Well, I’ll swan.” I never did figure out the origin of that. But it seemed to be the equivalent of, “Well, I’ll be!”
Here’s a request: soap opera. I don’t understand why it’s called that!
Does the international no symbol have anything to do with the Japanese character の pronounced “no”?
Sincerely,
Student Jamus37
Paraphrasing my dictionary: ab- (prefix) Middle English, from Old French and Latin; Old French from Latin ab-, abs-, a-, from ab meaning from, away, off. From Greek apo.
Just picking up the dictionary worked my abs!
according to the word “spitting image” i think the 3rd theory is the correct. please let me know marina. greetings from MX
i would lke to know the origin of a delicious word…DESSERT. thanks Marina and greetings, i hope you select this word.
I want to know were the word plasma came from. and also were howdy because it says that in the top right cornor
the 3d one.
High Marina)) Could you explain the origin of the word spirit? Why are some liquor called spirits?
Dear HotForWords,
I’d like to request the phrase:
“Cut to the chase”
Thanks!
When things got boring in old movies, the director would have the film cut to the chase (as in coppers followin robbers) to keep the audience interested. This is what I’ve heard, anyway.
Hi Marina,
My word requests are: Analogy and Analysis.
Cya
Sounds retentive to me…
yea, scratch those: rather mundane. ;\
My answer is going to be D -None of the above. The three answers given may all be false answers given out by Marina’s evil twin. Don’t let the voice in the background of the vid fool you… Marina’s dark half could easily have mastered ventriloquism as well as philology. You never know… I’ll have to wait until the next video to find out. How evil.
As for a word request, I recently came across the word ‘reincelibate’ (or ‘re-incelibate’, perhaps) in a song lyric of an old Mott the Hoople track. Curious if it is a real word or if it is just a play on words. If it is real, I wonder what exactly it means, tho I doubt it is real, and more of a Lewis Carroll type effort. Thought I’d ask Marina and/or her evil twin about it, as they both have degrees in philology.
Thanks for another interesting lesson, HotForWords. By chance do you have a neutral triplet in addition to your evil twin? Maybe we should just clone you and create a master race of philologists. Just think of all the word requests that would get answered.
what does fire and ice mean
LOL I WAS THINKING IT WAS A SPITTING OF THE OTHER HEAD(CUM)LOL BOY WAS I WRONG LOL/ LIKE A SON LOOKS LIKE THE FATHER OR THE DAUGHTER LOOKS LIKE THE MOTHER LOL.OH WELL IM GONG TO GUESS NUMBER 2 NO NO 1 NO NO 3 OK 2 NO 1 NO 3 NO NO OK FINAL ANSWER (2) OK THAT IT OK 2 IM SURE IM WRONG AGAIN BUT WORTH A TRY.
I’d like to know more about the word, Bisexual. [:
I think the answer is number 3, Spit and Image.
I also have a word request, it kind of goes with spitting image, juxtaposition.
Thanks and the lessons are great!
Can you please make a video about the word “marginalize”? I didnt really understood it.
Thanks and love you videos!
Kindergarden looks like it consists of the word Kinder and Garden, which would imply that it comes from the german words Kind meaning child and Garten meaning garden, but here’s another rather interesting explanation:
It’s rather interesting, that in many european languages, words that sound related to “garden” (english), “garten” (german) or “jardin” (french) often have something to do with protection of “the weak”.
Examples: The guard. (german: Garde), yard…
In fact, a Garten is a place always surrounded and protected by some sort of fence, wall or hedge.
Which leads us to the words chórtos (greec) and the hortus (latin) for garden. The corresponding verb “hortari” means “to advise/warn” or “to invite so. to do sth.” or literally translated “wohl eingefrieded” (german) or “well protected”.
Also, another german word for “Kindergarten” is “Kinderhort” (even though they seem to be related, the apparently aren’t (?))
To make the long story short: In this context, garten has nothing to do with flowers and trees, but rather with the protection of something vulnurable.
This idea also applies to “Baumschule”, a place where trees are protected. Like a school.
Hope that did help, though I can not guarantee that it is correct.
I’m no phylologist. I’m not even hot
My word of choice: Where does the name Marina come from.
oh wait! alternative word:
Gay/Lesbian
I know where gay is supposed to come from, but does lesbian have anything to do with the lesbos island in greece?
maybe I should have listened to the radio thingy before posting that comment. disregard it
Marina,
Your website has become quite the phrontistery, even with that acrasial, fallaciloquent, and senticous evil twin of yours. I’ve become quite the sacricolist of you, Marina. You speak gaudiloquently, and your hirquitalliency increases every day.
Amazing how many words have come and gone in the English language.
Eric
Being quite the sesquipedalian, eh prospero811
Yes, I suppose I am today.
All that may have sounded like amphigory or galimatias, but hopefully you don’t consider it a delenda. Word of advice for your evil twin, she should probably get herself to a growlery.
Oh.. request tor your next video… can you wear a belly shirt please? I am in the mood for omphaloskepsis.
(strictly for philosophical purposes, of course…. )
prospero,
if you like good-looking east european women with big boobs and revealing clothes, you should definitely check out veronika zemanová. not from russia, though, but from czechoslovakia.
I think she did some playboy shootings. whatever.
there’s even a dog in that video.
alx - I did not see the dog…. and I don’t discriminate based on national origin….
first few seconds in the vid. white dog.
Don’t confuse Russia with Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic)
but finally is east European…
?
Back in the 80’s during the cold war, we watched, I kid you not the movie Red Dawn in history class. This farm boy said if he ever saw a Russkie he’d shoot him. I asked why in the hell would just shoot somebody for being Russian? Along with a few additional insults and we ended up fighting. He was just some ignorant patriotic farm boy who likes to ride tractors and shoot guns. So twenty years later I am talking with hitman and wondering what the farm boy would think of that. Now here is the sad thing. The kid ended up being a military policeman stationed at the Guantanomo Bay prison. This was before the news that the U.S. was torturing detainees. The farm boy comes up missing, all they can find are his clothes at the edge of a ledge overlooking the ocean. The military declared it an accidental death and closed the case. I always think about this patriotic farm boy and that fight we had and if he committed suicide, if so why, and what he was thinking.
But, Red Dawn doesn’t describe a real fact, just an hypothetical Soviet invasion to the USA
No, but viewing the video while in a history class during the cold war is irresponsible. The movie had little to do with history. It affected the students understanding toward Russia and it’s history. It created a bias in the class that interfered with a fair treatment of world history. Also in my post there is a theme of personal and national aggression and how people and nations have progressed. The fictional crimes committed by the Russians in the movie are then compared to the real crimes committed by the U.S. in Guantanomo Bay. They are linked by the lives of me and this farm boy and how our experiences and perceptions have guided and misguided us, and our nations.
prospero811 If you speak that way normally, you should consider running for president, you would keep the media perplexed for days, trying to figure out if you actually answered their question.
Well here’s a list of the words you used for those who have no clue what it says, yes I had to google them
phrontistery
n. place for study.
acrasial Adjective (comparative more acrasial, superlative most acrasial)
Positive
acrasial
sacricolist n 1727 -1727
devout worshipper
She was a skeptic, but became a sacricolist after her father’s death.
Comparative
more acrasial
Superlative
most acrasial
1. ill-mannered, ill-tempered.
fallaciloquence n 1656 -1761
deceitful speech
Your fallaciloquence, though charming, will not convince the jury to acquit.
senticous adj 1657 -1657
prickly; thorny
He pricked himself on a senticous bush as he searched about for his golf ball.
gaudiloquent adj 1656 -1727
speaking joyfully or on joyful matters
Her gaudiloquent tone was thought excessively perky by the stodgy faculty.
hirquitalliency n 1652 -1652
strength of voice
The wrestler’s hirquitalliency compensated for his lack of strength and talent.
sesquipedalian
1 : having many syllables : LONG *sesquipedalian terms*
2 : given to or characterized by the use of long words *a sesquipedalian television commentator*
amphigory n.
A nonsense verse; a rigmarole, with apparent meaning, which on further attention proves to be meaningless. [Written also amphigouri.]
galimatias n.
Nonsense; gibberish.
[French.]
delenda n. pl.
[L., fr. delere to destroy.]
Things to be erased or blotted out.
growlery
a retreat for times of ill humor
This, you must know, is the growlery. When I am out of humour, I come and growl here. — Dickens, Bleak House
Can you do a lesson on the origin of the word KINDERGARTEN
Hi Marina!
My guess is “spit and image.”
TGIF!
Eric
Please please please can you give me the real origin of “the whole nine yards” .. I have seen several… I must know! It refers to the totality of something … as in.. “He took the whole nine yards of the beer on the table!”
Thanks so much HFW…
I was wondering where the origin of the word recorder comes from. (The woodwind instrument called recorder)
It would be so amazing if you would do the word hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia i watch all your videos and think you are amazing
I have two word requests that are totally unrelated:
origins of the word ‘robot’
where does the expression ‘running amok’ come from?
Thanks!
You had me going there. I was going to correct your punctuation to read: I have two word requests that are: totally, unrelated.
Could you try the word “concubine” ?
Darn! I was going to suggest that one.
Oh well. Farewell my concubine!
“Knock your socks off”
That one is a shoo-in!
man, this is the only english hw i ever do! ah well, i this its the splitting image..
i think is teory number 3, but i agree with number 2, so i have to throw a coin, ok, is number 3
I like the “splitting image” . Spit woodwork is also a sign of good craftsmanship.
I also have my first word request. It is inspired by the high standard of your lessons. One could say you are “persnickety” about what you present and even how you present the lesson.
Where did persnickety come from?
Thanks
I agree with the majority here - I choose number 3. I also have to add that as an adjunct faculty, it was always good to hear from my female students compliments on my looks. I must say I’m “Hot For Teacher”… with respect to Marina and borrowing from the classic 80s Van Halen tune.
ahah the way you said shut up at the end was kinda cool hehehe
i would say it is …
hehehe.
theory 1 is more like a person look like some who died.. like you said resemblance
if one person it has to be theory 2 splitting images is like multiple personality i think…
theory 3 spit and image if we are really talking about twins as in two persons who look a like
so i would say its theory 3
Hey what about the word
‘heirloom’
Both the ‘heir’ and the ‘loom’ parts confuse me, and why are they used together?
Cheers!
Hey Marina,
I’ve been a fan of etymology since I was in elementary school. I actually asked one of my first teachers about why words what they were and he didn’t know how to respond. Anyway, I love your channel and I think I have a very good word for you.
Where does the word “a lot” or just “lot” come from?
Do the different definitions have anything to do with one another?
Can you have a lot of lots?
Or a lot with a lot of little lots of lost lollipops looted from a lot of empty lots?
I’d love to know a lot more than I do now about “lot” and “a lot” … probably a lot of other people would too
-David
You’ll find a lot of lots on eBay or any other auction, on line or in a dusty old warehouse.
What did John F. Kennedy and King Arthur once do in Egypt when they forgot to bring along their ride? . . . Why, they went to the Camel Lot.
Testing, testing…
Try again!
<a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:SpittingI mage_albumcover.jpg”Marinas evil twin with Ronald Reagan
& again!
<a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Spittin gI mage_albumcover.jpg””Marinas evil twin with Ronald Reagan”
If at first you don’t succeed, don’t take up sky-diving!
HELP
<a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Spittin gImage_albumcover.jpg”>Marinas evil twin with Ronald Reagan</a>
code is above. just copy and paste.
Marinas evil twin with Ronald Reagan
*sigh*
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:SpittingI mage_albumcover.jpg">Marinas evil twin with Ronald Reagan</a>
Marinas evil twin with Ronald Reagan
yo, marina, lol. delete the obsolete postings of mine. 6:46 and 6:48. thx. and this one. uh huh.
Many thanks for that, alx.
That’s what I thought I did at first but I see that I left out the all important “>” in the middle.
may i request the word “tattoo”..
Giorni Bella, I woud like 2 no the meaning of “Aficionado”-”Virtuoso “-incognito”–not all but which ever one u choose–A Presto, Grazie Mille! Tanti Saluti-Ciao.
I’m guessing 3
i would like to request the 2 words
a.m. and p.m.
i don’t know if you already done them
p.m. stands for pulchritudinous Marina, the real one
a.m. stands for alternative Marina, the hologram, the evil twin & the second life avatar.
ROFL
Could you do, “Aloof”?
^
/ \
/ \
Sorry; I’m on holiday in Thailand so I thought you meant a roof.
Ho Hum
So spaces don’t come out well… wtf
AH!
Would you like one of those?