50 Idioms for Family With Meanings & Sentences
Idioms for Family
1. Blood is thicker than water
Meaning: Family relationships are stronger than other relationships.
In a Sentence: He chose to help his brother even when it meant losing his job—blood is thicker than water.
Other Ways to Say: Family comes first, loyalty to kin.
2. Like father, like son
Meaning: Children often resemble their parents in behavior or appearance.
In a Sentence: Sarah loves playing the piano, just like her mother; it’s like father, like daughter!
Other Ways to Say: Chip off the old block, following in someone’s footsteps.
3. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Meaning: Children are often similar to their parents.
In a Sentence: He became a lawyer just like his dad—the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Other Ways to Say: A reflection of parents, same traits.
4. A family affair
Meaning: Something involving many members of a family.
In a Sentence: Decorating the Christmas tree is always a family affair in our house.
Other Ways to Say: A gathering of relatives.
5. Runs in the family
Meaning: A trait or behavior shared by family members.
In a Sentence: Musical talent runs in the family—they all play instruments.
Other Ways to Say: Family trait, hereditary skill.
6. Black sheep of the family
Meaning: A person who is considered different or a disgrace to the family.
In a Sentence: He’s always been the black sheep of the family, choosing art over law.
Other Ways to Say: Outcast, odd one out.
7. Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth
Meaning: Born into a wealthy or privileged family.
In a Sentence: She never had to worry about money—born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
Other Ways to Say: Privileged from birth, wealthy background.
8. Flesh and blood
Meaning: A close family member.
In a Sentence: He may have hurt me, but he’s still my flesh and blood.
Other Ways to Say: Kin, blood relative.
9. Home is where the heart is
Meaning: A place you love and feel emotionally attached to is home.
In a Sentence: No matter where I go, my childhood house is still home—it’s where the heart is.
Other Ways to Say: True home, emotional center.
10. Bring home the bacon
Meaning: To earn money to support the family.
In a Sentence: He works two jobs to bring home the bacon for his kids.
Other Ways to Say: Earn a living, support the family.
11. Like mother, like daughter
Meaning: Daughters often resemble their mothers.
In a Sentence: She’s just as creative as her mom—like mother, like daughter.
Other Ways to Say: Takes after her mother, similar in nature.
12. Close-knit family
Meaning: A family with strong bonds and emotional closeness.
In a Sentence: Ours is a close-knit family—we talk every day.
Other Ways to Say: Tight family, strongly connected.
13. Family tree
Meaning: A chart showing family relationships across generations.
In a Sentence: I researched my family tree and found out I had Viking ancestors!
Other Ways to Say: Ancestry chart, genealogy.
14. Skeleton in the closet
Meaning: A hidden family secret.
In a Sentence: Every family has a skeleton in the closet they don’t talk about.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden truth, family shame.
15. Mama’s boy
Meaning: A man overly attached to his mother.
In a Sentence: He calls his mother for everything—he’s a total mama’s boy.
Other Ways to Say: Dependent on mother, overly attached son.
16. Two peas in a pod
Meaning: Very similar or close.
In a Sentence: My sister and I are two peas in a pod—we do everything together.
Other Ways to Say: Inseparable, very alike.
17. Start a family
Meaning: To begin having children.
In a Sentence: They just got married and plan to start a family next year.
Other Ways to Say: Begin parenting, have kids.
18. Raise a family
Meaning: To bring up children.
In a Sentence: She worked hard to raise a family on her own.
Other Ways to Say: Bring up kids, parent children.
19. All in the family
Meaning: Something kept within the family.
In a Sentence: They kept the business all in the family.
Other Ways to Say: Family-run, family-owned.
20. Blood relatives
Meaning: People related by birth.
In a Sentence: He has no blood relatives left in the country.
Other Ways to Say: Biological family, kin.
21. One big happy family
Meaning: A group living in harmony.
In a Sentence: Even after adoption, they lived like one big happy family.
Other Ways to Say: Harmonious group, united family.
22. Family feud
Meaning: A long-term dispute within a family.
In a Sentence: The family feud over the will lasted years.
Other Ways to Say: Family conflict, domestic quarrel.
23. It takes a village
Meaning: Raising a child requires support from the whole community or family.
In a Sentence: With four kids, she really believes it takes a village.
Other Ways to Say: Shared parenting, community support.
24. Home sweet home
Meaning: A phrase expressing affection for home.
In a Sentence: After the long trip, I was so glad to be back—home sweet home.
Other Ways to Say: My cozy place, safe haven.
25. Keep it in the family
Meaning: Not to share family matters with outsiders.
In a Sentence: Let’s keep this issue in the family.
Other Ways to Say: Private matter, stay internal.
26. Tied to your mother’s apron strings
Meaning: Overly dependent on one’s mother.
In a Sentence: He’s still tied to his mother’s apron strings even in his thirties.
Other Ways to Say: Dependent, not independent.
27. Chip off the old block
Meaning: A child who resembles their parent in character or behavior.
In a Sentence: He’s a real chip off the old block—just like his dad.
Other Ways to Say: Just like dad, same nature.
28. Father figure
Meaning: A man who acts like a father.
In a Sentence: After my dad passed away, my uncle became a father figure.
Other Ways to Say: Guardian, male mentor.
29. Family resemblance
Meaning: When family members look alike.
In a Sentence: There’s a strong family resemblance among the siblings.
Other Ways to Say: Look alike, similar appearance.
30. Family ties
Meaning: Strong connections among family members.
In a Sentence: Despite the distance, our family ties keep us close.
Other Ways to Say: Family bond, emotional link.
31. Break up the family
Meaning: To cause separation in a family.
In a Sentence: The divorce almost broke up the family.
Other Ways to Say: Divide the household, tear apart.
32. Family comes first
Meaning: Giving priority to family over everything else.
In a Sentence: He declined the promotion because family comes first.
Other Ways to Say: Family is the priority, blood before business.
33. Aunt Flo is visiting
Meaning: A humorous way to refer to menstruation (family-friendly version).
In a Sentence: She stayed home because Aunt Flo is visiting.
Other Ways to Say: Time of the month, period.
34. Head of the family
Meaning: The person in charge of the household.
In a Sentence: Grandpa is still the head of the family.
Other Ways to Say: Leader of the family, patriarch/matriarch.
35. Big brother is watching
Meaning: Being watched or monitored, often by authority.
In a Sentence: With all these cameras, it feels like Big Brother is watching.
Other Ways to Say: Under surveillance, being watched.
36. Like one of the family
Meaning: Treated as if part of the family.
In a Sentence: Our nanny is like one of the family.
Other Ways to Say: Beloved outsider, honorary member.
37. My own flesh and blood
Meaning: A very close blood relative.
In a Sentence: I would never betray my own flesh and blood.
Other Ways to Say: My relative, my kin.
38. Home away from home
Meaning: A place where you feel as comfortable as home.
In a Sentence: Grandma’s house is my home away from home.
Other Ways to Say: Second home, comfort zone.
39. No place like home
Meaning: Home is the best and most comforting place.
In a Sentence: After weeks of travel, there’s no place like home.
Other Ways to Say: Home is best, comfort of home.
40. Found family
Meaning: A group of people not related by blood but emotionally close.
In a Sentence: My friends are my found family.
Other Ways to Say: Chosen family, emotional tribe.
41. Keep the home fires burning
Meaning: Maintain a home or routine during difficult times.
In a Sentence: She kept the home fires burning while her husband was at war.
Other Ways to Say: Stay strong at home, manage affairs.
42. A house divided
Meaning: A family or group in conflict.
In a Sentence: Ever since the inheritance issue, they’ve been a house divided.
Other Ways to Say: Broken household, divided family.
43. Leave the nest
Meaning: When children grow up and move out.
In a Sentence: When I left the nest, my parents felt both proud and sad.
Other Ways to Say: Move out, become independent.
44. Wearing the pants in the family
Meaning: The person who has control or authority in the family.
In a Sentence: She clearly wears the pants in the family.
Other Ways to Say: The boss, decision-maker.
45. Put the family first
Meaning: Prioritize family above all.
In a Sentence: No matter what, she always puts the family first.
Other Ways to Say: Value family, family above all.
46. Run in the family
Meaning: A trait that appears in many family members.
In a Sentence: Heart disease runs in the family.
Other Ways to Say: Genetic, hereditary.
47. Be part of the furniture
Meaning: So familiar in the home that you’re always there.
In a Sentence: He’s always here—you’re part of the furniture now!
Other Ways to Say: Always present, permanent fixture.
48. Family man
Meaning: A man devoted to his family.
In a Sentence: He’s a real family man who spends all weekends with his kids.
Other Ways to Say: Devoted dad, home-centered.
49. Domestic bliss
Meaning: A happy and peaceful family life.
In a Sentence: Their marriage is a picture of domestic bliss.
Other Ways to Say: Happy home, family harmony.
50. Be in the family way
Meaning: To be pregnant.
In a Sentence: She’s in the family way and due next spring.
Other Ways to Say: Expecting, with child.
