“Don’t Spit the Dummy” Means “Don’t Throw a Tantrum”

In Australian English, to spit the dummy means to lose one's temper or have a tantrum. A dummy is a baby's pacifier, so the expression pictures an adult reacting like a child who spits it out. It therefore conveys more than simple anger: it judges the reaction as excessive.

For example: “When the roster changed, he spat the dummy and walked out.” “Lost his temper” is more neutral, while “spat the dummy” is humorous or disparaging. If someone is genuinely distressed, using it directly may sound dismissive. It is more natural when describing a familiar person's exaggerated reaction after the event.

Spit the dummy