long spoon

Iced-tea stirrer type

A long spoon is a spoon with an extended handle, used for stirring tall drinks, reaching into deep containers, or eating from sundae glasses.

The proverb warns that one who sups with the devil should use a long spoon—meaning keep your distance when dealing with dangerous or untrustworthy people.

Related

silver · soup · dessert · serving · reach · wooden · mixing · utensil · devil · proverb · sup · broth · extended · grasp · scoop · cauldron · witch's brew · distant

Categories
Opposites
handle length/utensil size

long spoonteaspoon

Small spoon or measure

baby spoon · coffee spoon · dessert spoon · soup spoon · tablespoon

safe distance in dealings (proverbial)

long spoonbare hands

Ungloved, unequipped extremities

close embrace

Family

long, spoon, longer, longest, longing, longingly, length, lengthen, lengthy

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G