(idiom) to bestow high praise on someone's literary works; to express extreme appreciation for a piece of writing. Literally "to strike and break a spittoon," referring to a story where Wang Dun of the Jin Dynasty would beat out the rhythm of a poem on a spittoon until its rim chipped.

to express extreme admiration for a poem or piece of writing; literally to strike a spittoon and cause it to crack or chip while chanting poetry or keeping time