Wednesday 5 September 2007

Phrase of the Day 140: 'silver spoon'

"to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth"


definition: to be born into wealth, comfort or privilege.

example: 'Paris Hilton will never have to do a proper job; she was definitely born with a silver spoon in her mouth'

origin: At one time, it was customary for godparents to give their godchild a silver spoon at the christening. These people were usually well-off so the spoon came to represent the child's good fortune. The phrase was used by Cervantes, the Spanish writer, in the early 1600s in the book Don Quixote.

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