{"id":2698,"date":"2017-11-18T19:00:31","date_gmt":"2017-11-19T00:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getmorevocab.com\/?p=2698"},"modified":"2020-03-01T21:24:37","modified_gmt":"2020-03-02T02:24:37","slug":"22-idioms-talking-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getmorevocab.com\/22-idioms-talking-family\/","title":{"rendered":"22 Idioms for Talking About Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’ve studied English for a while, communicating basic information about your family is probably easy at this point.<\/p>\n

What might still be difficult is using idioms and natural-sounding expressions to describe family dynamics and other more complicated family matters.<\/p>\n

Here are 22 essential idioms for talking about family, along with some conversation questions you can use to practice the idioms.<\/p>\n

Also see this practice exercise<\/a>, which requires you to use the idioms.<\/p>\n

Interested in learning idioms? If so, check out the idioms and phrasal verb section<\/a> of the site.<\/p>\n

Idioms about similarities between a child and another family member<\/h1>\n

to take after someone<\/span><\/h2>\n

To\u00a0take after someone<\/em>\u00a0means to be very similar to an older family member.<\/p>\n

“I take after my father. We’re both architects, and we both love soccer.”<\/p>\n

“We’re all glad that Mark took after his mother instead of his father. His father was a thief, but his mother was a saint.”<\/p>\n

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This girl looks like she’s going to take after her mother. (Photo by Zun Zun from Pexels<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree<\/span><\/h2>\n

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree<\/em> means that a child usually has similar qualities to their parents.<\/p>\n

“John ended up in prison just like his father. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”<\/p>\n

“It’s not unusual that you have the same interests as your mother. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”<\/p>\n

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Some apples that didn’t fall very far from the tree. (Photo by Catkin from Pixabay<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

a chip off the old block<\/span><\/h2>\n

If someone is a chip off the old block<\/em>, it means the person is very similar (in character and personality) to one of their parents.<\/p>\n

“Tiffany is an accomplished pianist just like her mother. She’s a chip off the old block.”<\/p>\n

“Sam’s a chip off the old block. He and his father are both stubborn, headstrong people.”<\/p>\n

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If they both have similar personalities, then the daughter is a chip off the old block. (Photo by actaylorjr from Pixabay<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

to follow in someone’s footsteps<\/span><\/h2>\n

To follow in someone’s footsteps<\/em> means to try to achieve the same things that someone else (usually a family member) has already done.<\/p>\n

“I decided to go into law instead of medicine. I thought about following in my father’s footsteps and becoming a surgeon, but I don’t think I’d make a great doctor.”<\/p>\n

“Michael Douglas followed in his father’s footsteps and became an actor. His father, Kirk Douglas, was also a Hollywood actor.”<\/p>\n

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Photo by bobscshwenkler from Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

like father, like son<\/span><\/h2>\n

Like father, like son<\/em> is an expression that means that sons tend to be similar to their fathers. We normally use this idiom to talk about personality, interests, and character.<\/p>\n

“Jimmy is tall just like his father, and they have the same smile. Like father, like son.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Both Miguel and his father spend their weekends fishing and watching sports. Like father, like son.”<\/p>\n

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They have all the same interests. Like father, like son. (Photo by morissettes from Pixabay<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

to run in the family<\/span><\/h2>\n

If something runs in the family<\/em>, it means that many members of the family have that quality, skill, interest, problem, disease, etc.<\/p>\n

“Heart disease runs in my family. I try to have a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise.”<\/p>\n

“Talk to your doctor about any illnesses that run in your family.”<\/p>\n

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Image from\u00a0shirtgoals.com<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

in one’s blood<\/span><\/h2>\n

If something is in one’s blood<\/em>, it means that it is a fundamental part of who that person is and something that is ingrained in that person’s family.<\/p>\n

“Law is in my blood. I’m a lawyer, and so is my father, my grandfather, and two of my aunts.”<\/p>\n

“Music is in my blood. Almost everyone in my family can sing, compose, or play an instrument.”<\/p>\n

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If her family members are also musicians, then she could say that music is in her blood. (Photo by skeeze from Pixabay<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

spitting image<\/span><\/h2>\n

If someone is a spitting image<\/em> of another family member, it means that those two people look almost identical.”<\/p>\n

“Kate’s the spitting image of her mother. They both have blue eyes and dimples.”<\/p>\n

“My son is a spitting image of my husband.”<\/p>\n

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This girl is the spitting image of her mother. (Photo by 1011383 from Pixabay<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Idioms about a parent’s love for a child<\/h1>\n

the apple of one’s eye<\/span><\/h2>\n

Someone’s favorite or most cherished person is the apple of their eye<\/em>. We often use this idiom to talk about a parent and their child.<\/p>\n

“Our grandson is the apple of our eye. We absolutely adore him.”<\/p>\n

“Sadly, Ramona doesn’t remember her father because he died when she was two. She knows that she was the apple of his eye, though.”<\/p>\n

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This man’s granddaughter is the apple of his eye. (Photo by ole044 from Pixabay<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

pride and joy<\/span><\/h2>\n

Someone’s pride and joy<\/em> is someone who makes that person extremely proud and happy. We can also use this idiom to talk about a thing (a hobby, possession, etc.) that makes someone proud and happy.<\/p>\n

“Mike retired early to spend time with his kids. They’re his pride and joy.”<\/p>\n

“Melanie’s garden is her pride and joy. Nothing makes her happier than spending her weekends making it look beautiful.”<\/p>\n

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A father with his pride and joy. (Photo by ddmitrova from Pixabay<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Idioms about good and bad family relationships<\/h1>\n

get along with<\/span>\u00a0(or get on with<\/span>)<\/h2>\n

If two people get along with<\/em>\u00a0(or get on with<\/em>) each other, it means that they like each other and have a friendly relationship. (Get along with<\/em> is American English, and get on with<\/em> is\u00a0 British English.)<\/p>\n

“I feel fortunate that I get along with my family so well.”<\/p>\n

“If you have a large family, there will likely be some people who don’t get along with each other.”<\/p>\n

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These two kids look like they get along well. (Photo by Bess-Hamiti from Pixabay<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

(just) one big happy family<\/span><\/h2>\n

If a group of people is\u00a0(just) one big happy family<\/em>, it means that a group of people (often a family) get along and work well together. We sometimes use this idiom sarcastically.<\/p>\n

“To outsiders, they seemed like one big happy family, but they often fought behind closed doors.”<\/p>\n

“Our firm has been successful because of our close-knit relationship. We’re one big happy family.”<\/p>\n

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If you have a great relationship with everyone at the office, you might say that you’re “just one big happy family.” (Photo by rawpixel from Pixabay<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

to have a falling out<\/span><\/h2>\n

To have a falling out<\/em> with someone means to have a disagreement which ruins a relationship with that person.<\/p>\n

“Margaret and her sister had a falling out a few years back. They hardly even speak to each other now.”<\/p>\n

“There were some disagreements about my mom’s inheritance, and two of my brothers had a falling out over it.”<\/p>\n

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Money can cause family members to have a falling out. (Image by anaterate from Pixabay<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

bad blood<\/span><\/h2>\n

Bad blood<\/em> means that there is anger or hate between people people due to something that happened in the past.<\/p>\n

“There’s bad blood between Carlos and Alex, so let’s not invite them both to dinner.”<\/p>\n

“Are you sure you want to invite all of your cousins to your party? Isn’t there bad blood between two of them?”<\/p>\n

“Bad Blood” is also a popular song by Taylor Swift which you may have heard.<\/p>\n