silver spoon
English
editEtymology
editRooted 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.
Pronunciation
editAudio (General Australian): (file)
Noun
edit- (idiomatic) Wealth passed down or inherited.
- He was born with a silver spoon and an upturned nose. He didn't lose the latter when he squandered the former.
- 1969, Creedence Clearwater Revival (lyrics and music), “Fortunate Son”, in Willy and the Poor Boys:
- Some folks are born silver spoon in hand / Lord, don't they help themselves, yeah
Usage notes
editAlthough this noun is uncountable, it is almost always preceded by the indefinite article ("a").
Translations
editwealth passed down
See also
edit- born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
- silvertail (Australian English)
- silver fork novel