spoon

born with a silver spoon in one's mouth

Fig. born into wealth and privilege. James doesn't know anything about working for a living; he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Most of the students at the exclusive private college were born with silver spoons in their mouths.

See also: born, mouth, silver

greasy spoon

Fig. a cheap diner, where the silverware might not be too clean. The corner greasy spoon is always busy at lunchtime.

See also: greasy

He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon.

Prov. If you have dealings with dangerous people, you must be careful that they do not harm you. If you're going to hang out with that disreputable bunch of people, keep in mind that he who sups with the devil should have a long spoon.

See also: devil, have, long, should, who

spoon something out

to serve something out, as with a spoon; to give something out, as with a spoon. The cook spooned the beans out, giving plenty to each camper. The cook spooned out the beans.

See also: out

spoon something up

to serve something that requires finding and bringing up out of a pot with a spoon. The cook spooned the hard-cooked eggs up one by one. The cook spooned up chunks of meat from the stew.

See also: up

spoon-feed someone

Fig. to treat someone with too much care or help; to teach someone with methods that are too easy and do not stimulate the learner to independent thinking. The teacher spoon-feeds the students by dictating notes on the novel instead of getting the children to read the books. You mustn't spoon-feed the new recruits by telling them what to do all the time. They must use their initiative.

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a greasy spoon  (informal)

a small, cheap restaurant which mainly serves fried food of a low quality There's a greasy spoon on the corner of his street where he usually has breakfast.

See also: greasy

be born with a silver spoon in your mouth

to be the son or daughter of a very rich family His complete lack of concern about money is natural of someone who was born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

See also: born, mouth, silver

be spoon-fed

to be given too much help or information When I was at school we weren't spoon-fed, we had to work things out for ourselves.

the wooden spoon  (British & Australian)

an imaginary prize given to the person who finishes last in a race or competition For the second year running Ireland took the wooden spoon in the Rugby tournament.

See also: wooden

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born with a silver spoon in your mouth

to have opportunities that you did not earn but that you have from the influence of your family Bill was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth – he came from a poor family and earned his success through hard work.

Etymology: from the idea that silver spoons were given at birth to wealthy children

See also: born, mouth, silver