wooden spoon

British

noun

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Gatland was left with an inexperienced squad and had to use young players, a situation that saw Wales slump to a first Six Nations wooden spoon in 21 years.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2025

Includes wheat from eastern Washington, a baking towel and a wooden spoon.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 16, 2023

Holding her aluminum tray, she moved from body to body, spreading maple-syrup-colored wax where it was needed with a flat wooden spoon, and pressing in strips of gauze before it hardened.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023