TO SPOON-FEED

To spoon feed someone means to give them so much help that they don’t need to do anything but follow your instructions. It comes from the literal meaning of feeding a baby with a spoon – the baby only needs to swallow the food; they don’t need to make the food, pick up the spoon or even chew it.

We can use this expression with lots of nouns, but two common examples are 'information' or 'answers'.

Example Sentences

The teacher spoon-fed her favourite student the answers to the test.
Bob doesn’t have much initiative and isn’t able to do things by himself – you need to spoon-feed him.
This new accounting software is fantastic – you just input the numbers and it spoon-feeds you all the information you need!
A good journalist investigates his story – he's not satisfied with information spoon-fed by government ministers.

Now You Try

Has anyone ever spoon-fed you information that helped you achieve your goal? Is it good or bad to provide too much help to someone - does it kill their initiative and self-confidence? Share your opinion with us.

😉 You can also share it with everybody on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages - we're waiting ❤️

😉

Latest Friday Phrase

Push your luck
Episode 200313 / 13 Mar 2020
Learn a useful expression about taking a big risk
Down to earth
Episode 200306 / 06 Mar 2020
Learn a useful expression to describe a sensible, practical person
A helicopter parent
Episode 200228 / 28 Feb 2020
Learn a useful expression to describe an overprotective parent.
Personal goals
Episode 200221 / 21 Feb 2020
Learn a useful phrase to talk about setting objectives at work.
Not put a foot wrong
Episode 200214 / 14 Feb 2020
Learn a phrase to describe someone not making mistakes.
Take after someone
Episode 200207 / 07 Feb 2020
Learn a useful phrasal verb to say that you are similar to an older member of your family.
Look up to someone
Episode 200131 / 23 Jan 2020
Learn a useful multi-word verb to say that you admire someone
Black sheep
Episode 200124 / 24 Jan 2020
What to say when a member of our family tends to behave badly
Sweat it out
Episode 200117 / 17 Jan 2020
Have you been working hard at the gym lately?
Take a well-earned break
Episode 200110 / 10 Jan 2020
Do you need a rest after a period of hard work?
Pat yourself on the back
Episode 191220 / 20 Dec 2019
Learn a useful phrase to congratulate people
Go bargain hunting
Episode 191213 / 13 Dec 2019
Do you spend a lot of time shopping for the cheapest item?
Things are looking up
Episode 191206 / 06 Dec 2019
Learn an optimistic expression 😊
Spring into action
Episode 191129 / 29 Nov 2019
Stand by to learn a new phrase!
To be loved up
Episode 191122 / 22 Nov 2019
An informal phrase about being in love 💕
Half-baked
Episode 191115 / 15 Nov 2019
Had an idea not properly thought through? This phrase's for you!
To spoon-feed
Episode 191108 / 08 Nov 2019
Have you ever provided so much help to someone that they didn't even need to think? There's a phrase for that.
Do numbers
Episode 191101 / 01 Nov 2019
Find out how to use the phrase 'do numbers' in BBC Learning English's Friday Phrase series.
Have a frog in your throat
Episode 191025 / 25 Oct 2019
Find out how to use the phrase 'have a frog in your throat' in BBC Learning English's Friday Phrase series.
One in a million
Episode 191011 / 09 Oct 2019
Find out how to use the phrase 'one in a million' in BBC Learning English's Friday Phrase series.