wooden spoon
An ironic prize for finishing last in a competition.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He won the wooden spoon for coming last in the race.”
“After losing every match, our team took home the wooden spoon with good-natured embarrassment.”
“Despite months of preparation, the debate team earned the wooden spoon, finishing below schools that had scarcely trained at all.”
- 01
born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
Born rich, or into a wealthy family.
- 02
eat up with a spoon
To accept (something) very eagerly.
- 03
greasy spoon
An inexpensive diner or other informal restaurant, especially one specializing in frying or grilling.
- 04
silver spoon
Wealth passed down or inherited.
- 05
spoon bowl
A match between the last placed and second last placed team in an Australian sports league, derived from the fact that the team that finishes last is informally awarded the "wooden spoon"
- 06
wooden spoonist
Synonym of wooden spooner: a last-place finisher.
Last updated August 10, 2026