spoon-feed - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

• spoonfeed

From spoon +‎ feed.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈspunˌfid/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈspuːnfiːd/
• Hyphenation: spoon‧feed

spoon-feed (third-person singular simple present spoon-feeds, present participle spoon-feeding, simple past and past participle spoon-fed)

1. (intransitive) To help somebody (usually a baby or elder) to eat using a spoon; to feed using a spoon.
2. (transitive) To overly pamper or indulge (someone), so that they do not (or because they failed to) act or think for themselves.

   I can help you with your homework, but you must understand the concept, because I will not spoon-feed you.

3. (transitive) To give (something) in an overly pampering way, so that the recipients do not (or because they failed to) act or think for themselves.

   What do you mean "I don't know"? I'm practically spoon-feeding you the answer!

4. (ambitransitive) To explain (something, to someone) in simple words; to explain (it, to them) in words of one syllable; to spell (it) out (for them).