born with a silver spoon

born with a silver spoon

Born into a wealthy family. We may both be wealthy now, but I was not born with a silver spoon. I had nothing when I was young, and all of my fortune is down to my own hard work. Everyone who attends that university was born with a silver spoon, so I just don't think it's the right place for me.
See also: born, silver, spoon
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

born with a silver spoon

Born wealthy, or fortunate, or both, as in Paul can afford to go to medical school; he was born with a silver spoon. Although some authorities believe this phrase alludes to the custom of godparents giving their godchild a silver spoon, affordable only by rich persons, it is more likely that the spoon has come to symbolize wealth. [c. 1700]
See also: born, silver, spoon
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

born with a silver spoon

Born rich, or lucky, or both. Several writers believe this phrase comes from the custom of godparents giving their godchild a silver spoon, and only the wealthy could afford this gift. However, the spoon here may simply be symbolic of wealth, and indeed, other locutions, such as “He was borne with a penny in ’s mouth” (John Clarke, Parœmiologia Anglo- Latina, 1639), also occurred. The silver spoon was cited in Peter Motteux’s translation of Don Quixote (1712), as well as in two proverb collections of the same period.
See also: born, silver, spoon
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • be born with a silver spoon in (one's) mouth
  • be born with a silver spoon in your mouth
  • born with a silver spoon in (one's) mouth
  • born with a silver spoon in his or her mouth
  • born with a silver spoon in mouth
  • born with a silver spoon in your mouth
  • born
  • be/be born/be made that way
  • be born that way
  • born and bred
References in classic literature
"I may say, steward," the Ancient Mariner resumed, "that I was born with a silver spoon that melted in my mouth and left me a proper prodigal son.
Michael Brother of Jerry
Far from being born with a silver spoon in her mouth, Geri's worked hard to get where she is today on her own terms and is still out there flying the flag for female empowerment.
STAR OF THE WEEK
ACTRESS Louise Linton was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, raised in a Scottish castle with all the benefits an upper class upbringing can buy.
The class fool; RECORD View
More people are beginning to discover that it is the perfect present for clients born with a silver spoon in their mouth or the deserving ones who believe that every cloud has a silver lining.
A Box of CRU's premium steaks for your premium taste
But the hard truth is that they start at a huge disadvantage compared with somebody born with a silver spoon in his mouth and able to exploit ruthlessly his family connections.
Try harder? That's rich; VOICE OF THE DAILY Mirror
Anne was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she had to go out and work hard for 1any opportunity.
Anne's ring of confidence e; HOW A JEWELLERY HOBBY TURNED INTO A SPARKLING BUSINESS WITH A GROWING WORLDWIDE FOLLOWING
I would go further and say they are steadily obliterating thousands of years of amazing evolution" Broadcaster Chris Evans on computer games "I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but I spat it out" Actress Kiera Chaplin, granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin "I am unable to watch the Olympics due to the blustering jingoism that drenches the event.
THEY SAID WHAT?
Lia was born with a silver spoon more like a golden spoon--in her mouth, but she has a good heart and is generous.
Jack and Jill decoded
WELL we weren't all born with a silver spoon in our mouths, but there is another reason for this saying.
Cutlery that's a cut above
Silver Spoon Personal Financial Officers, LLC is a comprehensive wealth management office, where clients are made to feel like they were born with a Silver Spoon in their mouths.
Spoonful of Generosity from Silver Spoon Personal Financial Officers Sends Young Boy to Disney World
"I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth," he writes in the prologue.
The Peebles Principles
HE may not have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but as one of the last spoon makers in Birmingham Craig Robathan certainly knows how to make them.
9 decades of silver service; FAMILY: Spoon maker keeps drop hammer tradition alive
Auctioneers Bigwood said: "If you feel you really should have been born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you can can buy your way into the world of the landed gentry.
Buy your way to be lord of the manor
But you'd have hoped the man born with a silver spoon in his mouth, who married into one of the richest families in England and who because of his royal connections is able to charge 17,000 quid for a table, would have had a tad more business sense.
Del Boy Lin ley's a fool
Some morals may be familiar such as Aesop's "Slow but steady wins the race"; others might be new to the reader, such as "Being born with a silver spoon in your mouth doesn't teach you how to feed yourself." Each modern parable is followed by a more detailed explanation of the parable's meaning and applications.
Parables for Life in the 21st Century