born with a silver spoon

Idioms  

1. Born wealthy, or fortunate, or both, as in Paul can afford to go to medical school; he was born with a silver spoon. Although some authorities believe this phrase alludes to the custom of godparents giving their godchild a silver spoon, affordable only by rich persons, it is more likely that the spoon has come to symbolize wealth. [c. 1700]

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Example Sentences

Tice, who attended the £16,000 per-term Uppingham School, agreed that he was born "with a silver spoon in his mouth".

From BBC • May 16, 2025

"Some red squirrels have the luck of being born into gentler early environments, akin to being born with a silver spoon," Petrullo said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2024

In the informercial, Springer referred to the quote and talked about wanting to reach out to “regular folks … who weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth.”

From Seattle Times • Apr. 27, 2023

“He’s not someone who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 11, 2022

If Huygens was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Boyle was born with a canteen of cutlery in his.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Related Words

• affluent
• encouraging
• fortuitous
• happy
• healthy
• helpful
• lucky
• profitable
• prosperous
• successful
• wealthy
• well-off