What does ひと匙 mean in this manga and has it been used colloquially?


[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GgzIz.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GgzIz.jpg)

I’m reading this manga and I came across this scene that the character is
describing the new member of the school team that

> 音駒【ねこま】に **あとひと匙【さじ】** 欲しかった決定力になり得る存在

*Note: 音駒 is the highschool name.

For ひと匙, I’m assuming the character is implying that this new member is one
last piece (or thing; factor; component) that the team has sought after.
However, after I have done some research online, I could not find any examples
of [匙【さじ】](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/87633/meaning/m0u/) with such
usage. (Most examples I found are related to cooking recipe, which was not
surprising because of its original meaning of spoon.)

Therefore, I’m curious if my understanding is correct? If yes, has the term
been used colloquially?




Your understanding is actually very good: You don't need me.

> 「​音駒 {ねこま} ​にあとひと匙{さじ} ​ 欲{ほ}しかった決定力{けっていりょく}になり得{う}る存在{そんざい}」

obviously describes this new player.

The Nekoma High has been lacking an amount of scoring ability (決定力). By how
much? By just a spoonful（ひと匙）. The new 194-cm-tall guy could now be just that
missing piece for the team.

The use of 「ひと匙」 is fairly common in referring to a small amount of something
that is totally unrelated to cooking.

The super-literal TL of the phrase above would be something like:

> "The existence that could potentially be the final spoonful of the scoring
> ability that one desired for Nekoma."

