Families are special groups of people who care for each other. They help us learn, grow, and feel safe. Sometimes, it can be hard to describe the strong bond we feel with our family. That’s why people use idioms—fun phrases that mean something different from the words you see.
Idioms help make language more interesting. When we talk about family using idioms, it shows just how close and important our relationships are. In this article, we will look at idioms that talk about family in a fun and easy way. You might even hear some of these at home! Let’s explore what they mean and how we can use them.
Idioms for Family
1. Blood is thicker than water
Meaning: Family relationships are stronger than other relationships.
Example Sentence:
– Even though they argue, they always help each other. Blood is thicker than water.
– She chose to stay with her brother. Blood is thicker than water.
Other ways to say: Family comes first, family bonds are strongest
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom has been around for centuries and reminds us how deep family ties can be.
Usage: Used when someone shows loyalty to their family.
2. Like father, like son
Meaning: A son often behaves like his father.
Example Sentence:
– He loves baseball just like his dad. Like father, like son.
– They both talk the same way. Like father, like son.
Other ways to say: Just like his dad, takes after his father
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom shows that children often act or look like their parents.
Usage: Used when a son does something similar to his father.
3. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Meaning: Children are often like their parents.
Example Sentence:
– She sings beautifully just like her mom. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
– He’s funny like his dad. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Other ways to say: Just like their parent, runs in the family
Fun Fact/Origin: It compares a child to an apple falling near the tree it came from.
Usage: Used when children show traits similar to their parents.
4. A chip off the old block
Meaning: A child who looks or acts like one of their parents.
Example Sentence:
– He tells great stories just like Grandpa. He’s a chip off the old block.
– She fixes things like her dad. A chip off the old block.
Other ways to say: Just like the parent, mirror image
Fun Fact/Origin: A block of wood and a chip from it look alike—just like a parent and child.
Usage: Used when a child is very similar to a parent.
5. Runs in the family
Meaning: A trait or talent shared by many family members.
Example Sentence:
– Everyone in that family can play music. It runs in the family.
– Blue eyes run in the family.
Other ways to say: Inherited, passed down
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom is often used for talents, looks, or behaviors passed from parent to child.
Usage: Used to describe family traits.
6. Black sheep of the family
Meaning: A family member who is very different from the rest.
Example Sentence:
– He’s the only one who doesn’t like sports. He’s the black sheep of the family.
– She dresses differently than the others. She’s the black sheep.
Other ways to say: Odd one out, different from the rest
Fun Fact/Origin: Black sheep were rare and seen as unusual in flocks, just like some people in families.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t fit in with their family’s usual way.
7. Born with a silver spoon in your mouth
Meaning: Born into a rich or wealthy family.
Example Sentence:
– He never had to worry about money. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
– She grew up in a big house. Silver spoon kid.
Other ways to say: Born lucky, born rich
Fun Fact/Origin: Wealthy families used silver spoons in the past, showing they had money.
Usage: Used to describe someone who grew up rich.
8. Flesh and blood
Meaning: A close family member.
Example Sentence:
– I can’t be mad at her. She’s my own flesh and blood.
– He helped his cousin because they’re flesh and blood.
Other ways to say: Family, kin
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase shows the closeness of family ties.
Usage: Used when talking about close relatives.
9. Spitting image
Meaning: Looks exactly like someone else, often a parent.
Example Sentence:
– She’s the spitting image of her mom.
– He looks just like his dad—spitting image.
Other ways to say: Looks exactly like, mirror image
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of someone being so alike it’s like they were spit out from the same person.
Usage: Used when a child looks just like a parent.
10. Father figure
Meaning: A man who acts like a father, even if not related.
Example Sentence:
– Coach Thompson is like a father figure to the team.
– My uncle is my father figure.
Other ways to say: Role model, father-like person
Fun Fact/Origin: Used when someone plays a dad’s role in someone’s life.
Usage: Used to describe someone who gives support like a dad.
11. Big brother
Meaning: An older male sibling. Sometimes it means someone who looks out for you.
Example Sentence:
– My big brother always helps me with homework.
– He acts like a big brother to the younger kids.
Other ways to say: Older brother, protector
Fun Fact/Origin: The term is often used for someone who watches over others.
Usage: Used for older brothers or protectors.
12. Mama’s boy
Meaning: A boy who is very close to his mom.
Example Sentence:
– He never leaves his mom’s side. He’s a real mama’s boy.
– Some kids tease him for being a mama’s boy.
Other ways to say: Attached to mom, mommy’s kid
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used to describe a boy who depends on his mom a lot.
Usage: Used when a boy is closely tied to his mother.
13. Like two peas in a pod
Meaning: Two people who are very alike and close.
Example Sentence:
– Those twins are like two peas in a pod.
– She and her sister always agree—two peas in a pod.
Other ways to say: Very close, just alike
Fun Fact/Origin: Peas grow closely inside a pod—just like close people.
Usage: Used for people who are very similar or close.
14. Wear the pants in the family
Meaning: The person who makes decisions in the family.
Example Sentence:
– Mom wears the pants in our family.
– In their house, it’s clear who wears the pants.
Other ways to say: Leader, decision-maker
Fun Fact/Origin: Pants were once seen as a sign of power, and usually worn by the person in charge.
Usage: Used to describe who leads in a family.
15. Skeleton in the closet
Meaning: A secret in the family’s past.
Example Sentence:
– They don’t talk about Uncle Joe—it’s a skeleton in the closet.
– Every family has a skeleton in the closet.
Other ways to say: Hidden secret, past trouble
Fun Fact/Origin: The image comes from the idea of hiding something you don’t want others to see.
Usage: Used when talking about hidden family issues.
16. Runs in the blood
Meaning: A trait or skill passed through family.
Example Sentence:
– Singing runs in the blood in her family.
– Being funny runs in the blood for them.
Other ways to say: Passed down, inherited
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to family traits flowing through generations.
Usage: Used when family members share the same skill or habit.
17. Family tree
Meaning: A chart showing your relatives over time.
Example Sentence:
– We made a family tree for school.
– My grandpa helped me draw our family tree.
Other ways to say: Family chart, ancestry map
Fun Fact/Origin: It looks like a tree, with branches for each family member.
Usage: Used when talking about family history.
18. Baby of the family
Meaning: The youngest child in the family.
Example Sentence:
– He’s spoiled—he’s the baby of the family.
– As the baby of the family, she gets extra attention.
Other ways to say: Youngest sibling, little one
Fun Fact/Origin: The “baby” often means the youngest, not an actual baby.
Usage: Used when talking about the youngest family member.
25. Keep it in the family
Meaning: To pass something down only to family members.
Example Sentence:
– Grandpa wanted the farm to stay in the family.
– They kept the recipe in the family for generations.
Other ways to say: Family tradition, passed down
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom is often used for businesses, recipes, or secrets.
Usage: Used when things are shared only with family.
26. Like mother, like daughter
Meaning: A daughter is similar to her mother.
Example Sentence:
– She bakes just like her mom. Like a mother, like a daughter.
– They laugh the same. Like a mother, like a daughter.
Other ways to say: Takes after her mom, just like mom
Fun Fact/Origin: A version of “like father, like son,” showing how daughters follow mothers too.
Usage: Used when a girl acts like her mom.
27. Play favorites
Meaning: To treat one family member better than the others.
Example Sentence:
– Don’t play favorites with your kids.
– Grandma always plays favorites with my little brother.
Other ways to say: Favor one, treat unfairly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from showing extra attention to one person.
Usage: Used when someone shows unfair preference in a family.
28. On your mother’s side
Meaning: Refers to relatives from your mom’s family.
Example Sentence:
– My cousins on my mother’s side live in Texas.
– I got my freckles from my mother’s side.
Other ways to say: From mom’s family, maternal side
Fun Fact/Origin: People often describe family connections this way.
Usage: Used to talk about one half of the family.
29. On your father’s side
Meaning: Refers to relatives from your dad’s family.
Example Sentence:
– My uncle on my father’s side visits often.
– I look like people on my father’s side.
Other ways to say: From dad’s family, paternal side
Fun Fact/Origin: A common way to explain where a family trait comes from.
Usage: Used when referring to the dad’s family.
30. No spring chicken
Meaning: Someone who is not young anymore.
Example Sentence:
– Grandpa says he’s no spring chicken, but he still plays basketball.
– She may be no spring chicken, but she can dance!
Other ways to say: Older person, not young
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from farmers preferring young chickens in spring.
Usage: Used in families to describe aging members.
31. Follow in someone’s footsteps
Meaning: To do what a family member did before you.
Example Sentence:
– He followed in his dad’s footsteps and became a firefighter.
– She wants to follow in Grandma’s footsteps and be a teacher.
Other ways to say: Copy, do the same
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom comes from walking the same path as someone else.
Usage: Used when someone chooses the same life path as a family member.
32. Mother hen
Meaning: A person who takes care of everyone.
Example Sentence:
– Aunt May is like a mother hen, always worrying about us.
– He acts like a mother hen with his younger brothers.
Other ways to say: Caregiver, protector
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how hens protect and care for their chicks.
Usage: Used for people who are very protective in the family.
33. Your own flesh and blood
Meaning: A close family member.
Example Sentence:
– You can’t ignore your own flesh and blood.
– He helped her because she was his flesh and blood.
Other ways to say: Close family, blood relative
Fun Fact/Origin: This shows how deeply people value family.
Usage: Used to stress a strong family connection.
34. Family feud
Meaning: A serious fight between family members.
Example Sentence:
– The brothers haven’t spoken in years. It’s a family feud.
– That family feud started over something small.
Other ways to say: Family fight, disagreement
Fun Fact/Origin: There’s even a TV game show with the same name.
Usage: Used to describe long-lasting fights in families.
35. Tied to your mother’s apron strings
Meaning: Too dependent on your mother.
Example Sentence:
– He’s 18 but still tied to his mother’s apron strings.
– She never makes choices alone—she’s tied to mom’s apron strings.
Other ways to say: Too attached, can’t let go
Fun Fact/Origin: Apron strings used to tie around young kids to keep them close.
Usage: Used when someone won’t act independently from their mother.
36. All in the family
Meaning: Something that stays within the family group.
Example Sentence:
– Don’t worry, the secret’s all in the family.
– The business stayed all in the family.
Other ways to say: Stays with family, family-only
Fun Fact/Origin: Popularized by a TV show with the same name.
Usage: Used for things that involve only family.
37. Old family recipe
Meaning: A cooking recipe passed down in the family.
Example Sentence:
– Grandma’s pie is an old family recipe.
– We use an old family recipe for this dish.
Other ways to say: Passed-down dish, family favorite
Fun Fact/Origin: Often shared across generations.
Usage: Used when a recipe has been in the family a long time.
38. Break the family mold
Meaning: To do something very different from your family.
Example Sentence:
– She broke the family mold by becoming an artist.
– No one in the family ever moved far away—until he broke the family mold.
Other ways to say: Be different, make your own path
Fun Fact/Origin: A “mold” is a shape—this idiom means changing that shape.
Usage: Used when someone takes a new path in life.
39. Father time
Meaning: A name for the passing of time, especially as people grow older.
Example Sentence:
– Father Time is catching up with Grandpa.
– You can’t stop Father Time.
Other ways to say: Aging, growing older
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from drawings of time shown as an old man.
Usage: Used when family members talk about aging.
40. Like pulling teeth
Meaning: Very hard to get someone in the family to do something.
Example Sentence:
– Getting him to help with chores is like pulling teeth.
– Talking to her about school is like pulling teeth.
Other ways to say: Very hard, nearly impossible
Fun Fact/Origin: Pulling teeth is painful and slow—like dealing with some people.
Usage: Used when a family member is hard to deal with.
41. Start a family
Meaning: To begin having children.
Example Sentence:
– They just got married and plan to start a family soon.
– She said she wants to start a family next year.
Other ways to say: Have kids, build a home
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom is often used when people begin a new life chapter.
Usage: Used when people talk about having children.
42. One big happy family
Meaning: A group that gets along very well.
Example Sentence:
– Everyone laughed and had fun. We were one big happy family.
– At the picnic, it felt like one big happy family.
Other ways to say: All together, close group
Fun Fact/Origin: Sometimes used in a funny or sarcastic way.
Usage: Used when people enjoy being together like a family.
43. Raise a family
Meaning: To take care of and grow a family.
Example Sentence:
– My parents raised a family of five.
– They moved to the country to raise a family.
Other ways to say: Bring up children, care for family
Fun Fact/Origin: Raising means helping someone grow.
Usage: Used when talking about parenting.
44. Like family
Meaning: Someone not related by blood but very close.
Example Sentence:
– Our neighbor is like family to us.
– My best friend is like family.
Other ways to say: Close as a brother, almost family
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows how strong friendships can feel like family.
Usage: Used when someone is treated like a family member.
45. Born into
Meaning: The family you are born in.
Example Sentence:
– She was born into a family of teachers.
– He was born into royalty.
Other ways to say: Grew up in, raised by
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to what you are born surrounded by.
Usage: Used when talking about your starting family.
46. Family bond
Meaning: A strong connection between family members.
Example Sentence:
– The sisters have a strong family bond.
– Even when we fight, our family bond keeps us close.
Other ways to say: Family tie, strong connection
Fun Fact/Origin: A bond is like glue—it holds people together.
Usage: Used when describing closeness in family.
47. Next of kin
Meaning: Your closest living family member.
Example Sentence:
– In emergencies, they ask for your next of kin.
– His wife is listed as his next of kin.
Other ways to say: Closest family, closest relative
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in legal or hospital settings.
Usage: Used to name your closest family contact.
48. Close-knit family
Meaning: A family that is very close and supportive.
Example Sentence:
– They are a close-knit family that always helps each other.
– We come from a close-knit family.
Other ways to say: Tight family, strong family ties
Fun Fact/Origin: “Knit” means to be tightly joined, like yarn.
Usage: Used to describe families who share strong love and support.
Quiz: Idioms for Family
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” mean?
A) A child is different from their parents
B) A child is similar to their parents
C) A child lives far away
2. If someone is the “black sheep of the family,” what does it mean?
A) They are everyone’s favorite
B) They are exactly like the others
C) They are very different from the family
3. What does “born with a silver spoon in your mouth” mean?
A) Someone who eats a lot
B) Someone born into a rich family
C) Someone who talks a lot
4. What does “like two peas in a pod” mean?
A) Two people love vegetables
B) Two people are very alike
C) Two people argue a lot
5. If something “runs in the family,” what does it mean?
A) It goes outside
B) It’s passed down through family members
C) It walks fast
6. What does “wear the pants in the family” mean?
A) Likes wearing jeans
B) Makes the decisions
C) Is the youngest child
7. What does it mean to “follow in someone’s footsteps”?
A) Walk behind them
B) Copy their fashion
C) Do the same job or life path as them
8. If someone is a “chip off the old block,” what are they like?
A) Very different from their family
B) Just like one of their parents
C) A blockhead
9. What does “skeleton in the closet” mean?
A) A Halloween decoration
B) A family member who’s shy
C) A hidden family secret
10. What does “like mother, like daughter” mean?
A) They don’t get along
B) The daughter is like her mother
C) They live far apart
11. What does “baby of the family” refer to?
A) The tallest sibling
B) The youngest child
C) The person who cries a lot
12. What does “on your father’s side” mean?
A) You stand beside your dad
B) From your dad’s family
C) Your dad’s favorite child
13. What does “keep it in the family” mean?
A) Keep something secret
B) Share something only with family members
C) Hide something in the house
14. If someone is “like family,” what does it mean?
A) They are annoying
B) They act like they’re related to you
C) They live next door
15. What does “mother hen” describe?
A) A bossy mom
B) A caring person who looks after others
C) Someone who owns chickens
16. What does “all in the family” mean?
A) Everyone is on the same team
B) Something that involves only family
C) Everyone got sick
17. What does “close-knit family” mean?
A) They like knitting
B) They are a group of close friends
C) They are very close and supportive
Answer Key
- B) A child is similar to their parents
- C) They are very different from the family
- B) Someone born into a rich family
- B) Two people are very alike
- B) It’s passed down through family members
- B) Makes the decisions
- C) Do the same job or life path as them
- B) Just like one of their parents
- C) A hidden family secret
- B) The daughter is like her mother
- B) The youngest child
- B) From your dad’s family
- B) Share something only with family members
- B) They act like they’re related to you
- B) A caring person who looks after others
- B) Something that involves only family
- C) They are very close and supportive
Wrapping Up
Family idioms help us talk about how we feel about the people closest to us. These fun phrases make it easier to describe love, support, and even little problems in our families. They’ve been used for years and are still common today.
When we understand idioms about family, we learn more than just words. We understand feelings and traditions. Try using some with your family—you might already know a few!
