born with a silver spoon in one's mouth

[Theseus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1535_questionanswer/page66.shtml
Born into a wealthy family/to have opportunities that you did not earn but that you have from the influence of your family.
This is commonly thought to be an English phrase and to refer to the British aristocracy. That may well be the case, but the earliest citation in print is from the USA.
--Bill was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth – he came from a poor family and earned his success through hard work.:down:

 

[Palavra]

We say Είναι από τζάκι, but this is not an exact equivalent, as it also means that someone who is born into a family with a fireplace comes from a noble, well-known or aristocratic family.

 

[bernardina]

We also say πορφυρογέννητος or purple-born a word which derives from Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos
A third version is (γεννημένος ή μεγαλωμένος) στα πούπουλα

 

[Palavra]

Still, when we say στα πούπουλα it doesn't necessarily mean that the child's family is very rich, as does the English phrase. It means that the child was raised with extreme care and had only the best - to his or her family's abilities.

 

[nickel]

Καλημέρα. Ήταν γόνος πλούσιας οικογένειας / παιδί πλούσιας οικογένειας.

(Κλασικά σιγουρατζίδικα.)

 

[bernardina]

Still, when we say στα πούπουλα it doesn't necessarily mean that the child's family is very rich, as does the English phrase. It means that the child was raised with extreme care and had only the best - to his or her family's abilities.

Au contraire, I'm fairly sure that the phrase is a direct reference to the financial means and social status of the family. What you mean by the child was raised with extreme care and had only the best is τον/την είχαν στα ώπα ώπα! (and therefore he/she is a little spoiled, too ;) )

 

[Palavra]

I beg to differ ():

ΦΡ στα πούπουλα, σε συνθήκες μεγάλης άνεσης, περιποίησης, πολυτέλειας: Mεγάλωσε / ανατράφηκε στα πούπουλα

On a more serious note: I'm under the impression that in the above Greek phrase emphasis is given on the fact that such a child is spoiled, not that it is rich, but maybe I'm wrong, in which case I vote for Nickel (see above).

 

[nickel]

Μια και λέτε για τα πούπουλα, αυτό δεν είναι το in the lap of luxury;

 

[bernardina]

Μια και λέτε για τα πούπουλα, αυτό δεν είναι το in the lap of luxury;

στα πούπουλα, σε συνθήκες μεγάλης άνεσης, περιποίησης, πολυτέλειας. Φυσικά από 'δω. (το έβαλε και η Palavra). Άρα; Προφανώς in the lap of luxury. (as far as I know...)

 

[SBE]

Πίσω στο αρχικό: είναι προνομιούχος

 

[dolphink]

Υπάρχει και η φράση Τρώω με χρυσά κουτάλια.
Βέβαια η αντίστοιχη αγγλική της είναι Eat off silver platters ή Eat on silver platters

Θα μπορούσαμε να πούμε Μεγάλωσε τρώγοντας με χρυσά κουτάλια;

 

[Cadmian]

Ή δεν χρειάστηκε να κοπιάσει ποτέ του και για τίποτα.

 

[nickel]

Η έμφαση του ιδιωματισμού είναι στην καταγωγή. Δεν εγγυάται διαρκή καλοπέραση:

He was born, as seen above, with a silver spoon in his mouth but elected to choose a life not very different from that of a pauper.

Βεβαίως, δεν χρειάζεται να πηγαίνει με το born:

It's doubtful anyone would say that John Deere was raised with a silver spoon in his mouth.

He had grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth, but his politics were far from the right.

Και κάνα δυο δυσμετάφραστα παραθέματα (όταν οι Αγγλοσάξονες κάνουν λογοπαίγνια που σε φέρνουν πίσω στην κυριολεξία):

Sam Adams was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but once it was removed he became a fine orator.

He had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he was not letting the spoon choke him. He was living flush with his American creed. He was trying to make the most of his life.