platter

(one's) head on a plate/platter

A phrase used hyperbolically to refer to a very harsh punishment. If I find out that Paul was the one who sabotaged my presentation to the board, I'll have his head on a plate! Identify the vandals, and bring me their heads on a platter!
See also: head, on, plate, platter

give (something) to (one) on a (silver) platter

To give or relinquish something to one very easily, without them having to work very hard to get or achieve it. The team's defense has been atrocious today, giving a victory to their opponents on a platter. If we can get the government to subsidize our project, we'll have our yearly earnings given to us on a silver platter.
See also: give, on, platter

hand (something) to (one) on a (silver) platter

To give or relinquish something to one very easily, without them having to work very hard to get or achieve it. The team's defense has been atrocious today, handing a victory to their opponents on a platter. If we can get the government to subsidize our project, we'll have our yearly earnings handed to us on a silver platter.
See also: hand, on, platter

on a platter

Easily and without any or much fuss, work, or effort. I was lucky enough to fall into a cushy managerial role, without much direct supervision or constraints—it's a great life that's just been handed to me on a platter. You've been given every opportunity in life on a platter, but still you whine and complain when things don't go exactly the way you want.
See also: on, platter

on a silver platter

Delivered or given to one, without having put forth much or any effort. Of course the CEO's daughter got the job without having to interview—she gets everything on a silver platter.
See also: on, platter, silver
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*on a silver platter

Fig. using a presentation [of something] that is appropriate for a very formal setting. (*Typically: give something to someone ~; present something ~; serve something ~; want something ~.) Aren't paper plates good enough for you? You want dinner maybe on a silver platter?
See also: on, platter, silver
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

hand to on a silver platter

Also, serve up on a plate. Provide with something valuable for nothing, or give an unearned reward to; also, make it easy for. For example, She did no work at all, expecting to have everything handed to her on a silver platter, or Just ask them-they'll serve up the data on a plate. Both terms allude to being elaborately served at the table. [Early 1900s] Also see born with a silver spoon.
See also: hand, on, platter, silver

platter

see under hand to on a silver platter.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

on a silver platter

or

on a platter

If you are given something on a silver platter or on a platter, you are given it without having to work or make an effort to get it. You expect me to hand you everything on a silver platter, and when you don't get it, you stamp your little foot and cry. The Opposition has been handed this issue on a platter. Note: A platter is a large plate or shallow dish used for serving food.
See also: on, platter, silver
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

on a silver platter (or salver)

without having been asked or sought for; without requiring any effort or return from the recipient.
The image here is of a butler or waiter presenting something on a silver tray.
See also: on, platter, silver
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

(hand something to somebody) on a silver ˈplatter

give something to somebody without expecting them to do or give anything in return: I don’t like her at all — she expects to be handed everything on a silver platter as if she’s better than other people.
A platter is a large plate that is used for serving food.
See also: on, platter, silver
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

platter

1. and plate n. home base or home plate in baseball. (Usually with the.) The batter stepped up to the platter.
2. n. a phonograph record. (Old but still heard.) They call it a “platter” because it looks like a serving platter.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

on a platter

Without exertion; effortlessly: always got what they wanted on a platter.
See also: on, platter
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • (one's) head on a plate/platter
  • be a fate worse than death
  • be out for blood
  • be out for/after (one's) scalp
  • scalp
  • out for blood
  • and his mother
  • beat off
  • go crazy
  • chain to
References in periodicals archive
The binoculars themselves attach to an aluminum beam that bolts to the top of the platter via hand knobs threaded into matching Tnuts.
The easy-go-round bino mount: build this simple device to provide steady binocular views of the night sky
The Mexican platter's crispy tortillas were smothered with cheese and was accompanied with potatoes stuffed with a spicy aubergine salsa sauce.
Tasty platters soak up the beer and chatter; dining BENNETTS, Birmingham
We can gain a deeper understanding of Platter's stance on this issue by dipping into his earlier articles (Platter 1993 and 2001).
Aristophanes and the Carnival of Genres
This is important because hard drives, with all their moving parts--actuator arms, platters and the like--are the only mechanical devices in today's computing systems.
Supercharging SATA drive performance: Native Command Queuing makes SATA viable in workstation, server applications
lemony fresh For a standing ovation, this is the way to properly present tangy fruit or a mound of stone crab claws to your grateful guests, on this sculptural aluminum-footed platter designed by California wildlife artist Arthur Court.
Platter matters: try these dramatic staging platforms for show-stopping food
seated on the benches to greet the numbered platters.
1910: the Morris Supreme Test
The most logical and practical solution was available for development almost immediately: a passive magnetically levitated platter transport system.
SRI Improves Hard-Disk Manufacturing
The turntable base, plastic dust cover, and large-diameter zinc alloy platter were separately wedged into a pair of formed Styrofoam packing modules in a cardboard box.
Thorens TD 320 Mark III Turntable
The Platter story has long engaged German readers, but it is new to English readers.
The Beggar and the Professor: A Sixteenth-Century Family Saga
A scholar's assistant in Germany, Platter went to Zurich, where he was introduced to the teachings of the Swiss Reformer Huldrych Zwingli and to the newly discovered world of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew culture.
Platter, Thomas
It is also installing two quad chairs (four-seaters), three tee bars and a wire rope tow (a platter pull).
Upgraded Kamiskotia ski hill now competitive in province
Anything you can tell us about our platter will be appreciated.
Plate commemorates the man on the moon
As we scope out the possibilities, the image of the fried seafood platter - you, know, the one with a little bit (or a lot) of everything - looms into view and begs to be sampled.
Dozen best restaurants for casual seafood
Once at the restaurant, we started with the non veg kabab platter that had the usual mix of fish, prawns, chicken, and mutton kababs.
Oman dining: Enjoy Indian delicacies at Maurya's restaurant