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wooden spoon

British  

noun

  1. a booby prize, esp in sporting contests

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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She said she scared the bear away by screaming and banging a pot with a wooden spoon.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 17, 2026

Using a wooden spoon, stir the lentils often to avoid burning them.

From Salon Jun. 7, 2026

Wales have not won a Six Nations match since 2023, when they narrowly avoided the wooden spoon thanks to a 29-17 victory away to an error-strewn Italy.

From Barron's Jan. 26, 2026

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and pork sausage together, breaking them up with a wooden spoon.

From Salon Apr. 7, 2025

She was eating slices of bread and jam, deftly cutting the bread from a large golden-brown loaf with a huge knife, then spooning on the purple jam with a wooden spoon.

From "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman

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