What it means
Said when you’re so thirsty your mouth feels like sandpaper and you’d neck anything wet. Mostly heard with that meaning across the North, but some folks also use it for being proper furious, like you’re about to kick off. Either way, it’s dramatic on purpose. Listen for the situation and you’ll know if they need water or a minute to cool down.
Usage examples
"Been grafting in this heat all day, I’m spitting feathers. Grab us a cold drink, or I’m marching straight to the pub, mate."
"Any chance of a brew? I am spitting feathers here."
"After that hike we were all spitting feathers by the time we found a pub."
"We'd been stuck on that train with no air con for an hour and I was proper spitting feathers by the time we got off."
"Hurry up with that water, I'm spitting feathers over here."
Where it comes from
A gloriously British way of saying bone-dry with thirst, mouth so parched you could spit out the dry fluff itself. Picture a throat so dry there is no spit left, only feathers. There is an older angry meaning too, but these days it is mostly the cry of someone dying for a drink and not afraid to say so.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Brilliant Giggle Thief Official watcher of this expression
Tell me, what have you got for me?