Language Focus

spit it out, speak up & speak out

spit it out
To stop hesitating and say what you want to say.
Come on, spit it out — what are you trying to tell me?
She could see he was nervous, so she told him to just spit it out.
Spit it out! We don't have all day.
speak up
To talk louder, or to be more willing to express yourself.
Could you speak up? I can barely hear you from the back.
If you think something is wrong, you need to speak up.
He was too shy to speak up during the meeting, even though he had a great idea.
speak out
To publicly express an opinion, especially on something important or controversial.
She spoke out against the new policy at the town meeting.
More employees are speaking out about unfair conditions in the workplace.
It takes courage to speak out when everyone around you disagrees.

speak up vs. speak out — what's the difference?

Both mean to express yourself, but the context is different.

Speak up is more personal — it's about finding the confidence to say what you think, often in a small or immediate situation like a meeting, a classroom, or a conversation.

Speak out is more public — it suggests taking a stand on a broader issue, often in front of an audience or in society generally.