vomit

Everyday

1. To vomit is to be sick: food and liquid come back up from your stomach and out of your mouth. tree →
2. Vomit is the food and liquid that comes out when you are sick. tree →

In the lessons

In health lessons and everyday life, vomiting can be caused by a tummy bug, food poisoning, travel sickness or eating something bad. Children are taught to tell an adult, wash their hands, drink small sips of water, and stay home until they are better. In first aid, a person who vomits and is very sleepy needs help. Everyday words: «be sick», «throw up», «puke» (slang).

Examples

• He vomited in the car on the way to Grandma's. tree →
• She felt sick and then vomited. tree →
• The cleaner cleaned up the vomit. tree →
• Tell a teacher if you feel like you might vomit. tree →
• Food poisoning can make you vomit. tree →
• Drink small sips of water after vomiting. tree →
• Stay home from school for two days after vomiting. tree →
• The cat vomited a fur ball. tree →

Note

Past form: vomited (one t). The noun is uncountable: «some vomit», not «a vomit». In British English «be sick» usually means vomit; in American English «be sick» usually means be ill. «Throw up» is the most common everyday phrase.

In Jewish tradition

In Leviticus, the land itself is said to throw out its people when they do wrong. The prophets and Proverbs use it for filth, and for a fool who goes back to his folly like a dog to its vomit.

Interpretation. Tradition reads this as the Land of Israel being holy, so it cannot tolerate sins such as immorality and idolatry. Living there is tied to keeping God's laws.

Examples

• And the land was defiled, therefore I did visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomited out her inhabitants. (Torah LEV.18.25, JPS 1917) tree →
• that the land vomit not you out also, when ye defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. (Torah LEV.18.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• Ye shall therefore keep all My statutes, and all Mine ordinances, and do them, that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, vomit you not out. (Torah LEV.20.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• For all tables are full of filthy vomit, and no place is clean. (Prophets ISA.28.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. (Writings PRO.23.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is a fool that repeateth his folly. (Writings PRO.26.11, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past form: vomited (one t). The noun is uncountable: «some vomit», not «a vomit». In British English «be sick» usually means vomit; in American English «be sick» usually means be ill. «Throw up» is the most common everyday phrase.