Spoon-feed
Meaning
To provide someone with so much information or assistance that they do not have to think or work independently.
Origin
The literal act of spoon-feeding, giving nourishment to infants or the infirm with a spoon, is as old as the utensil itself. However, the figurative use of 'spoon-feed' as a critique of over-instruction or excessive pampering emerged prominently in the 19th century. As formal education became more widespread, the term captured the frustration with teaching methods that treated students like helpless babies, unable to process information or solve problems on their own. The vivid image of a spoon, typically used for those incapable of feeding themselves, became a powerful metaphor to decry the stifling of intellectual independence and self-reliance in academic and professional settings.
Examples
- The professor refused to spoon-feed the students, expecting them to do their own research and problem-solving.
- He complained that his new manager was spoon-feeding him every task, stifling his creativity and autonomy.