My friend presented his research topic in front of my professor. He was asked a question about it, but he had difficulty in answering it and was upset for a while. Then my professor (translated):
"Whenever I see a researcher who's upset with a question, I think I could spit on him. Well, I'm not talking about you."
Needless to say that he was actually talking about my friend.
In my country one rarely talks about spitting on somebody. He has some work experience in North America, which he always boasts, so I believe his usage of the phrase is influenced in that in North America. While I know the phrase expresses some degree of dishonor, I have no idea how rude it actually is to "spit" on somebody.
If spitting on somebody is what people casually talk about in North America, probably I shouldn't take my experience seriously. If the phrase indicates strong dishonor, well, I don't know.
So what degree of dishonor does the phrase signify?
Best Answer
Sometimes expressions like this will be uttered as a hypothetical, without any underlying desire or intent to complete the act. For example, I found this post on a JustMommies Discussion Board:
Although domestic violence is a topic often taken very seriously, I don't think that's how the above comment was intended. Though the words might cross some lines, I think they were meant to be lighthearted, rather than threatening.
That said, such over-the-top remarks, like "I could just spit on him," can be construed as extremely insensitive. Even if it's only meant in jest, it's probably best to avoid talking that way.
I'm not defending the remark; there is certainly a degree of rudeness in it. That said, I'm guessing that the statement you heard was probably not meant to sound as "dishonorable" as you fear it might be.