12 Idioms about Family

12 Idioms about Family

Hi English learners! Do you agree that blood is thicker than water? If you don’t understand what it means, keep reading, because in today’s lesson, we will be learning 12 idioms about family.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree

Use this idiom to say that a child typically has the same qualities as their parents.

• His dad was a good mathematician and he won an award at the Maths competition. Well, I guess it proves the saying that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
• Miranda is an ambitious young lady, just like her mother was at her age. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

12 idioms about family

Black  sheep

If someone is a black sheep, they are different from the rest of the family, usually in a bad way.

• David has always been regarded as the black sheep of the family for his inclination to alcohol.
• Did you know that Debora left home at 16 and married a drug addict? I guess every family has a black sheep.

Blood is thicker than water

When we say that blood is thicker than water, we mean that family relationships are stronger and more important than any other relationship.

• Ryan has been taught in his family that blood is thicker than water so he always tolerates his sister’s behaviour.
• My cousin is my best friend. We grew up together and were inseparable back in school days. I would do anything for him. You know what they say – blood is thicker than water.

12 idioms about family

Bob’s your uncle (and Fanny’s your aunt)

The idiom is used to say “there you are, “here is the solution”, etc.

• You won’t get lost on the island. Just follow the road signs and Bob’s your uncle.
• When they call you for an interview, tell them that you worked for me and Bob’s your uncle. They will hire you for sure.

Born with a silver spoon in your mouth

If someone was born with a silver spoon in their mouth, then they were born rich.

• John was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. That’s how his parents could afford to send him to Eton.
• Unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you’ll have to work hard if you want to be successful

12 idioms about family

Breadwinner

 A breadwinner is a member of the family who provides food and other needs for the family.

• My mum’s never worked. My dad has always been the breadwinner in our family.
• When Simon’s father died, he started to work and became the breadwinner of the family.

A chip off the old block

If someone tells you that you are a chip off the old block, they mean that you are very much like your mother or father.

• Shirley is kind and generous, just like her mother. She is a chip off the old block.
• Charlie is just like his father. He’s a chip off the old block.

12 idioms about family

Flesh and blood

Your own flesh and blood are the people you are related to.

• Gary was fighting for his children all his life. After all, they are his flesh and blood.
• We must help Diana now when she needs us most. She’s our flesh and blood.

Kith and kin

The expression refers to your relatives and friends.

• The wedding was beautiful. All our kith and kin were there.
• After he got retired, Sean spent the rest of his life in his birth town, surrounded by his kith and kin.

12 idioms about family

Like father, like son

The idiom means that someone has the same character as their father.

• After graduating, Todd inherited his father’s dental practice and he’s a dentist now. Like father, like son.
• Whenever I was bad at school, my grandmother would say: “Like father, like son.”

Run in the family

If something like an illness or quality runs in the family, then members of that family are prone to it.

• You must take good care of your diet because heart diseases run in our family.
• The Roberts brothers are very intelligent and hard-working people. It seems to run in the family.

12 idioms about family

Spitting image

If you are a spitting image of someone in your family, then you resemble them a lot.

• Look at Fiona. She’s a spitting image of her grandmother.
• Your children are the spitting image of you. How amazing!

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