THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Born with a silver spoon in your mouth
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Born into a wealthy family with social advantages.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- The novel’s main character was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
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Can you recall the expression?
Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?
Born into a wealthy family with social advantages.
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Born with a silver spoon in your mouth — Born into a wealthy family with social advantages.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Born with a silver spoon in your mouth” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
Born into a wealthy family with social advantages.
Compare: The novel’s main character was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use it to discuss inherited privilege in conversation or writing. It can sound critical or envious, so avoid assuming someone’s character from their background.
More examples in context
- She says she was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth and had to save for every course.
- Being born with a silver spoon in your mouth does not tell us how hard you work now.
Usage note
Use was or were born, and match your to the person. The expression concerns advantages from birth, not money earned later.
A short conversation
A: Did the character build the business without any family help?
B: No, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and inherited the premises.
A: That changes how I understand his starting point.
One more practice question
Who was born with a silver spoon in their mouth?
A. Someone who grew up with very little and became wealthy much later.
B. Someone born into a wealthy, socially advantaged family.
Check your answer
B. The expression refers to privilege present from birth.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.