spoi Idiom, Proverb

spoil for a fight

try to begin a fight, chip on his shoulder, cruising for a bruising "Bud was spoiling for a fight with me. He said, ""You're too chicken to fight, ain't you?"""

spoiled brat

a child who always gets what he wants Sure he's a spoiled brat. His mom gave him whatever he wanted.

spoilsport

one who will not play, party-pooper You spoilsport! Why won't you play strip poker with us?

too many cooks spoil the broth

too many managers cause problems, too many chiefs... The structure failed because it was designed by a group of architects. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Too many cooks spoil the stew

Idiom(s): Too many cooks spoil the stew, AND Too many cooks spoil the broth

Theme: CONTROL

A proverb meaning that too many people trying to manage something simply spoil it.
• Let's decide who is in charge around here. Too many cooks spoil the stew.
• Everyone is giving orders, but no one is following them! Too many cooks spoil the broth.

To the victors belong the spoils

Idiom(s): To the victors belong the spoils

Theme: WINNING

A proverb meaning that the winners achieve power over people and property.
• The mayor took office and immediately fired many workers and hired new ones. Everyone said, "To the victors belong the spoils."
• The office of president includes the right to live in the White House and at Camp David. To the victors belong the spoils.

A rotten apple spoils the barrel.

A dishonest or immoral person can have a bad influence on a group.

Spare the rod and spoil the child

If you don't punish a child when he does wrong, you will spoil his character.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

If too many people are involved in something, it will not be done properly.

Spoil the ship for a ha'pworth of tar

(UK) If someone spoils the ship for a ha'pworth (halfpenny's worth) of tar, they spoil something completely by trying to make a small economy.

spoil for|spoil

v. phr. To want something very badly; be belligerent or pugnacious about something. After a few drinks it became embarrassingly evident that Hal was spoiling for a fight.
Compare: HANKER AFTER, LUST FOR.

too many cooks spoil the broth|broth|cooks|spoil|s

A project is likely to go bad if managed by a multiplicity of primary movers.

A proverb. When several people acted all at once in trying to reshape the company's investment policy, Tom spoke up and said, "Let me do this by myself! Don't you know that too many cooks spoil the broth?"

spoil

spoil
In addition to the idioms beginning with spoil, also see spare the rod and spoil the child; too many cooks spoil the broth; to the victor belong the spoils.
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- spoil for

spoil for

spoil for
Be eager for, as in He's just spoiling for a fight. This idiom nearly always refers to some kind of altercation. It may allude to spoil in the sense of “deteriorate over a period of time.” [Mid-1800s]

to the victor belong the spoils

to the victor belong the spoils
The winner gets everything, as in He not only won the tournament but ended up with numerous lucrative endorsements—to the victor belong the spoils. This expression alludes to the spoils system of American politics, whereby the winner of an election gives desirable jobs to party supporters. [First half of 1800s]