born with a silver spoon
Meaning
Born into a wealthy, privileged family; having advantages from birth rather than earning them.
Origin
From the old custom (especially in Europe) of giving a silver spoon as a christening gift to babies in well-off families; silver symbolized wealth and status. The idiom came to mean being born into privilege.
Notes
Often implies privilege and can sound critical or resentful. Use carefully so it doesn’t dismiss someone’s effort or achievements.
Examples
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He was born with a silver spoon, so he never had to worry about paying for college.
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People assume she was born with a silver spoon, but her family actually struggled when she was young.
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It’s hard to take his complaints seriously—he was born with a silver spoon.
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Being born with a silver spoon doesn’t guarantee happiness, but it does open doors.
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She wasn’t born with a silver spoon; she built her career from the ground up.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually appears as “be born with a silver spoon (in one’s mouth)” or “born with a silver spoon in his/her mouth.” Tense can change (was born), but the core phrase is fairly fixed.
Synonyms
- born into wealth
- born into privilege
- to have a silver spoon in one’s mouth
- trust-fund kid
Antonyms
- self-made
- from humble beginnings