born with a silver spoon in mouth
born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth,
also, silver spoon
Meaning
- to be born to parents who are rich and have a good social rank
- someone who is born into privilege and wealth
- someone who is lucky
Example Sentences
- He has never worked hard for anything because he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His parents brought everything to him instead.
- The students in this college are almost all born with silver spoons in their mouths.
- He does not need this job as much as I do, he is born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
- Joyce was born with a silver spoon; therefore, she got quickly onboarded into the national private university.
- He recently won the lottery; you can blame it on being born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Origin
The earliest printed record of the phrase in print is in Peter Anthony Motteux’s translation of the novel Don Quixote, 1719:
“Mum, Teresa, quoth Sancho, ’tis not all Gold that glisters [sic], and every Man was not born with a Silver Spoon in his Mouth.”
The British aristocracy was popular to use silver wear when dining and the phrase is speculated to have originated from the spoons particularly because wealthy godparents had a tradition of gifting silver spoons to their godchildren when they would be christened. In 1801, the Deb. U.S. Congress used the phrase, 1801 stating that lawyers were lucky and born with a silver spoon in their mouths.
Another literary use was in 1988 by the Texas State Treasurer Ann Richards, in the keynote speaking to the US Democratic National Convention who used the phrase to describe George Bush who was born to wealthy parents.
Share your opinions9 Opinions
Correction Ann said of Bush that he was born with a silver foot in his mouth. Combining two idioms for humor.
‒ Jules May 17, 2020
Silver is one of the best-known antibiotics, If a child was borne sick they were given a silver spoon to suck on for its antibiotic properties.
‒ #NovaScotia January 11, 2020
I was told over 50+ years that because of the wealth of affording real silver spoons there was a health benefit of daily eating off of silver. It was a medicinal preventive as pure silver builds the immune system.
‒ Rita January 5, 2020
I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I live in Hawaii! 🙂
‒ Jeff February 7, 2019
By the Grace of Allah, I always help the poor because I was born with a silver spoon in mouth.
‒ Khan Sahil March 27, 2018
I am also born with a silver spoon in mouth. As I didn’t need to work hard. I get everything in time. 😁😁
‒ Akanksha January 31, 2018
@David I feel bad for your life but this idiom helped me through school.
‒ Lucy November 27, 2017
When I was young one of my mothers told me I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, since moving to Florida from Michigan in April of 1991 I have lost everything in my apartment that I packed up in a 20 feet, Ryder truck, Gold Jewelry, Diamonds, Silver Bullion, Furniture at lest 45,000.00 dollars to Florida Dog Tracks an Florida Lottery, After being put out of a brand new home at 5 Sherrington drive in Ormond Beach, Florida I have been assaulted and had my jaw busted, my 88 grand Prix Pontiac stolen and have been homeless almost 19 years in Daytona and St.Augustine. Starving and Sleepless.
Is that what this statement means?
‒ David Noel Paul Battani October 24, 2017
Umar never need to find a job because he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
‒ Nabia June 19, 2017