family expressions Flashcards
(Be the) Spitting Image
Have a strong resemblance, often familial.
Look at Madeleine. She’s the spitting image of her mother.
(Born) Out of Wedlock
Illegitimate, born to unmarried parents.
I was born out of wedlock and raised by a single mother.
Accident Of Birth
Luck in something due to family good fortune.
Yes, he became company vice-president when he was only 23, but that’s an accident of birth – his father is one of the major stockholders.
And His Mother
Anintensifierfor aninclusivenoun or phrase such aseveryone,everybody.
Everybody and his mother is going to be at the fireworks. Let’s watch the on television.
Big Brother
Government, viewed as an intrusive force in the lives of citizens; government spying.
Big Brother seems to grow more and more powerful as data about individuals is accumulated on social networks.
Blue Blood (adj.: blue-blooded)
Person of aristocratic background.
The blue bloods generally keep to themselves, but a charity dance is a good place to see them dress up.
Bob’s Your Uncle
The rest is easy; you’re almost finished.
Just enter the update code, register the new software, and Bob’s your uncle.
Father Figure
A mentor, a person who offers guidance.
After I joined the company, Frank was a father figure to me. He gave me lots of valuable advice.
Flesh and Blood
Blood relatives, close relatives.
When all is said and done, few people understand you like your own flesh and blood, even if you don’t get along with them.
Helicopter Parenting
Overattentive child-raising.
The trend these days is toward helicopter parenting. When I was young children had much more independence, and I think it helped them.
Kith and Kin
Family (collectively)
When you go on a trip, it’s important to buy souvenirs for your kith and kin back home.
Like Father, Like Son
Sons inherit their fathers’ traits and preferences, often even without realizing it.
John was a great fisherman, and there’s his son Matt out on the water. Like father, like son.
Like Taking Candy from a Baby
Very easy.
Just watch. Getting her to go out with me will be like taking candy from a baby.
My Old Man, My Old Lady
My spouse.
I’d love to go to the mall with you, but I told my old man I’d go to the football game.
Pop the Question
Propose marriage.
I bought a ring, and I’m ready to pop the question to Patricia.
Run in the Family
Be inherited (as a trait) by multiple members of a family.
I’m not surprised Maria has started playing in a band. Musical talent runs in her family.
Small Fry
People or organizations with little influence; children.
We’re still small fry compared to the major companies in the field.
Spare The Rod And Spoil The Child
It is necessary to physically punish children in order to raise them right.
Marlena is to permissive with her children. Spare the rod and spoil the child, I say.
This Is Not Your Father’s
This item has been much updated from its earlier versions.
You may not have liked this bat in the past. But this is not your father’s Louisville Slugger.
Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water
Eliminate something good while discarding the bad parts of something.
Yes, the sales presentation has problems, but I don’t think we should start fresh with a new one. We don’t need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Up the Duff
Pregnant.
They hadn’t planned to get married, but Janice found out she was up the duff.
(Having a) Bun in the Oven
Pregnant
Babe In Arms
A baby being carried
Babe In The Woods
An innocent, naive person
Baby Boomer
A person born in the years following World War II, when there was a temporary marked increase in the birth rate
Born on The Wrong Side of the Blanket
Born to parents who were not married
Boys will be Boys
A phrase of resignation used when boys get into trouble or are stereotypically reckless or rowdy.
Child’s Play
A very easy task
Chip off the Old Block
Someone who resembles a direct ancestor, usually the father.
Like a Kid in a Candy Store
To be so excited about one’s surroundings that one acts in a childlike or silly way.
Sleep Like a Baby
To experience a very deep and restful sleep; to sleep soundly.
Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water
To discard something valuable or important while disposing of something worthless.
Wet Behind the Ears
Inexperienced, immature, new to something.
A face only a mother could love
A very ugly face
A mama’s boy
A boy or man who allows his mother to have too much influence on him.
A mother hen
A person who looks out for the welfare of others, especially to an overprotective degree.
A tiger mother
A strict and demanding mother
At one’s mother’s knee
If you learned to do something when you were a young child.
Be tied to (one’s) mother’s apron strings
An adult make deeply attached and needing his mother. Dating from the era when mothers wore aprons.
Everyone and his mother
Used to express a large number or a majority of people.
Expectant mother
A pregnant woman.
Experience is the mother of wisdom
This idiom is used to mean that people learn from what happens to them.
He that would the daughter win, must with the mother first begin
This is a proverb which means that if you intend to marry a woman, first try to win her mother on your side.
Like mother, like daughter.
Daughters tend to do what their mothers did before them.
Mother house
The principle house in a religious order.
Mother Nature.
The force that controls the natural world.
Mother’s milk
Something necessary and important.
The mother of all (something)
A large collection of a particular type of thing.
To keep mum
To keep quiet about something.
