spoon-feed: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, often critical
Quick answer
What does “spoon-feed” mean?
To feed someone, especially a baby or invalid, using a spoon.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To feed someone, especially a baby or invalid, using a spoon.
To provide information, help, or instruction in such a simplified, excessive, or patronizing way that it prevents independent thought or effort.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term identically. The hyphenated form 'spoon-feed' is standard for the verb in both regions, though 'spoonfed' (past participle/adjective) is also common.
Connotations
Identical negative connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “spoon-feed” in a Sentence
spoon-feed someone somethingspoon-feed something to someoneVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spoon-feed” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lecturer refused to spoon-feed the class and expected them to do the reading.
- You can't spoon-feed him every step of the form; he's an adult.
American English
- The software tutorial doesn't spoon-feed you, which makes you learn faster.
- Parents shouldn't spoon-feed their children all the answers.
adverb
British English
- The material was presented spoon-fedly, leaving no room for discovery. (Rare, non-standard)
American English
- He explained it spoon-fedly, which annoyed the experienced staff. (Rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- He came from a spoon-fed educational background and struggled at university.
- The report was criticised for its spoon-fed conclusions.
American English
- She had a spoon-fed upbringing and wasn't prepared for real-world challenges.
- The training provided was overly spoon-fed and unchallenging.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'The manager shouldn't spoon-feed the team every solution; they need to learn problem-solving.'
Academic
'University teaching aims to develop critical thinking, not to spoon-feed pre-digested facts.'
Everyday
'I had to spoon-feed him the instructions three times before he understood.'
Technical
Rarely used in purely technical contexts; more common in pedagogical or management discourse.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spoon-feed”
- Using it in a positive sense (e.g., 'The tutor spoon-fed me to success' – implies lack of own effort).
- Confusing with 'hand-hold', which is less severe.
- Misspelling as 'spoonfeed' (one word) in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In its literal sense (feeding a baby), it is neutral. In its predominant figurative sense, it is almost always negative, implying the stifling of independence.
Yes, commonly so (e.g., 'a spoon-fed generation', 'spoon-fed employees'). It describes people or things that have been treated in this over-protective way.
They are similar. 'Spoon-feed' is stronger and more pejorative, implying the information is overly simplified and delivered passively. 'Hand-hold' suggests guiding someone through a process step-by-step, which can be slightly less critical.
Yes, the verb form is typically hyphenated ('spoon-feed', 'spoon-fed', 'spoon-feeding'). The adjective 'spoon-fed' is also hyphenated. The one-word form 'spoonfeed' is less common in edited writing.
To feed someone, especially a baby or invalid, using a spoon.
Spoon-feed is usually informal, often critical in register.
Spoon-feed: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspuːn fiːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspun ˌfid/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “spoon-fed generation”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a teacher literally trying to put information into a student's mouth with a spoon. It's absurd, inefficient, and insulting—that's the essence of spoon-feeding.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION IS FOOD. Providing knowledge is feeding. Over-simplified knowledge is pre-chewed or liquid food given with a spoon.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of 'spoon-feed' in its most common usage?