ENGLISH
REFERENCE

silver spoon

idiom
Meaning

Wealth passed down or inherited.


Origin

disputed origin

Rooted in 18th century European table-setting customs, when diners would bring their own utensils to the meal. To distinguish themselves from serfs and peasants, members of the land-owning classes often used silver cutlery, whence the term silverware.

Examples
SIMPLE

He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

CONTEXTUAL

She never had to work a day in her life because she was born with a silver spoon.

COMPLEX

Despite his lack of professional experience, his family's silver spoon ensured he secured the executive position without any real competition.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    born with a silver spoon in one's mouth

    Born rich, or into a wealthy family.

  2. 02

    eat up with a spoon

    To accept (something) very eagerly.

  3. 03

    greasy spoon

    An inexpensive diner or other informal restaurant, especially one specializing in frying or grilling.

  4. 04

    sell the family silver

    To sell one's property (not necessarily heirlooms) in an attempt to avoid or escape financial difficulties.

  5. 05

    silver screen

    Movies, or that which is related to movies or cinema.

  6. 06

    silver sheet

    By extension, movies, the film industry, or that which is related to movies or cinema (often preceded with "the")

  7. 07

    silver tongue

    The trait of being articulate and clever at speaking, often in a deceitful way.

  8. 08

    speech is silver, silence is golden

    Not saying anything is often better than speaking too much or saying something inappropriate.

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