[Vocabulary] A sputtering relationship?

[LiuJing]

How do you define 'a sputtering relationship' of a couple?

Does the term mean they don't quite get along and quarrel a lot?

Thank you.

 

[charliedeut]

Have you looked "sputter" up in a dictionary? I did that (I didn't know the answer to your question), and now I know the answer.

charliedeut

 

[LiuJing]

Have you looked "sputter" up in a dictionary? I did that (I didn't know the answer to your question), and now I know the answer.

charliedeut

I had before posting the thread and got the following:

• 1 make a series of soft explosive sounds.

• 2 speak in a series of incoherent bursts.

• 3 Physics deposit (metal) on a surface by using fast ions to eject particles of it from a target.

Now I have consulted another dictionary and found there is a definition that says 'become very angry with lots of explosive sounds'. So it seems I have got it. Thank you.

 

[SoothingDave]

You know what sputters? A car engine when something is wrong or it's running out of gas. That's the implication I get - that they're relationship is barely moving and perhaps near the end.

 

[charliedeut]

You know what sputters? A car engine when something is wrong or it's running out of gas. That's the implication I get - that [STRIKE]they're[/STRIKE] their relationship is barely moving and perhaps near the end.

You really should stop typing that fast, Dave! ;-)