spoilt

Everyday

1. A spoilt child has been given everything they want, so they behave badly when they do not get their way. tree →
2. Spoilt food has gone bad and is not safe to eat. tree →
3. Spoilt means damaged or ruined: a spoilt picture, a spoilt day. tree →
4. A spoilt vote or ballot paper is filled in wrongly, so it is not counted (UK). tree →
5. «Spoilt for choice» means there are so many good choices that it is hard to pick one. tree →

In the lessons

In stories a spoilt prince or child learns a lesson; in everyday life spoilt food must be thrown away (safety). In maths problems, spoilt items are taken away from the total. Phrases: a spoilt brat, spoilt rotten, spoilt for choice, spoilt milk.

Examples

• The spoilt boy screamed when he didn't get the biggest present. tree →
• The milk was spoilt, so we poured it away. tree →
• The rain spoilt our picnic. tree →
• Gran spoils the grandchildren rotten. tree →
• At the sweet shop we were spoilt for choice. tree →
• Of 40 apples, 6 were spoilt, so 34 were good. tree →
• His drawing was spoilt by a big ink blot. tree →
• "But your bow is spoilt," said the old poet. tree →

Note

«Spoilt» is the usual UK, Irish, Australian and NZ form; Americans usually say «spoiled». «Spoilt brat» is rude. In maths, spoilt things are usually subtracted: 40 − 6 = 34 good ones. Do not mix up with «spilt» (past of spill).