spoon-feed
See also: spoonfeed
English
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editEtymology
editPronunciation
edit- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈspunˌfid/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈspuːnfiːd/
Audio (US): (file) - Hyphenation: spoon‧feed
Verb
editspoon-feed (third-person singular simple present spoon-feeds, present participle spoon-feeding, simple past and past participle spoon-fed)
- (intransitive) To help somebody (usually a baby or elder) to eat using a spoon; to feed using a spoon.
- (transitive) To overly pamper or indulge (someone), so that they do not (or because they failed to) act or think for themselves.
- I can help you with your homework, but you must understand the concept, because I will not spoon-feed you.
- (transitive) To give (something) in an overly pampering way, so that the recipients do not (or because they failed to) act or think for themselves.
- What do you mean "I don't know"? I'm practically spoon-feeding you the answer!
- (transitive, intransitive) To explain (something, to someone) in simple words; to explain (it, to them) in words of one syllable; to spell (it) out (for them).
Translations
editto help somebody to eat using a spoon
to overly pamper or indulge someone
to deliver information in as basic a manner as possible
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