# born with a silver spoon in one's mouth

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-ones-mouth
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Born rich, or into a wealthy family.

## Examples

- He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
- You act like you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth.
- They were born with silver spoons in their mouths and own three houses.
- She never had to work, since she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
- The politician struggles to connect with workers because he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and never faced financial hardship.
- Many people assume the new CEO was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but she actually grew up in a very poor neighborhood.
- Though born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he chose to build his own company rather than rely on family wealth.

## Origin

* According to some, the original nautical expression is just born with a silver spoon and describes those young gentlemen who were able to enter the Royal Navy without examination and whose promotion was assured. The converse was born with a wooden ladle. * However, the phrase is first recorded as a Scottish proverb in the form "Every Man is no born with a Silver Spoon in his Mouth" (1721).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.