Family is at the heart of our lives, shaping who we are and how we connect with others. Yet, describing those bonds with plain words can sometimes feel limited or repetitive. That’s where idioms for family come in—offering colorful, relatable expressions that capture the love, challenges, and closeness we share. In this article, you’ll discover phrases that make talking about family more vivid, natural, and memorable.
Best Idioms for Family
1. Run in the Family
Meaning: A trait or characteristic common among family members.
In a Sentence:
Artistic talent seems to run in the family.
Their sense of humor runs in the family, passed down through generations.
Other Ways to Say: Hereditary trait, Family characteristic, In the genes
2. A Chip Off the Old Block
Meaning: Someone who closely resembles a parent in behavior or appearance.
In a Sentence:
He’s a chip off the old block, just like his dad.
She’s a chip off the old block with her mother’s charm.
Other Ways to Say: Like parent, like child, Spitting image, Take after
3. Like Father, Like Son
Meaning: A son shares similar traits or behaviors with his father.
In a Sentence:
He’s ambitious, like father, like son.
Like father, like son, they both love fishing.
Other Ways to Say: Chip off the old block, Follow in his footsteps, Similar to dad
4. Spitting Image
Meaning: Someone who looks very similar to another, often a family member.
In a Sentence:
She’s the spitting image of her grandmother.
He’s the spitting image of his older brother.
Other Ways to Say: Lookalike, Dead ringer, Mirror image
5. Born with a Silver Spoon
Meaning: Born into a wealthy or privileged family.
In a Sentence:
She was born with a silver spoon, never wanting for anything.
He was born with a silver spoon, raised in luxury.
Other Ways to Say: Born into wealth, Privileged upbringing, Silver-spooned
6. Flesh and Blood
Meaning: A close family member, emphasizing biological ties.
In a Sentence:
I can’t turn my back on my own flesh and blood.
She’s my flesh and blood, so I’ll always support her.
Other Ways to Say: Kin, Blood relative, Family member
7. Black Sheep
Meaning: A family member who is different or disapproved of by the family.
In a Sentence:
He’s the black sheep, always causing trouble.
She felt like the black sheep in her strict family.
Other Ways to Say: Outcast, Rebel, Odd one out
8. To Follow in Someone’s Footsteps
Meaning: To pursue the same path or career as a family member.
In a Sentence:
She followed in her father’s footsteps to become a doctor.
He’s following in his mother’s footsteps as a teacher.
Other Ways to Say: Take after, Emulate, Follow the path
9. Family Man
Meaning: A man devoted to his family and their well-being.
In a Sentence:
He’s a family man, always putting his kids first.
As a family man, he spends weekends at home.
Other Ways to Say: Devoted father, Homebody, Family-oriented
10. And His Mother
Meaning: Used to emphasize a family trait or behavior shared with a parent.
In a Sentence:
He’s stubborn, and his mother is too.
She’s talented, and her mother as well.
Other Ways to Say: Like mother, like child, Takes after mom, Family trait
11. Bring Home the Bacon
Meaning: To earn money to support the family.
In a Sentence:
He works hard to bring home the bacon for his family.
She’s bringing home the bacon with her new job.
Other Ways to Say: Provide for family, Earn a living, Breadwinner
12. To Take After Someone
Meaning: To resemble a family member in appearance or behavior.
In a Sentence:
She takes after her mom with her kind nature.
He takes after his dad in his love for sports.
Other Ways to Say: Be like, Resemble, Chip off the old block
13. Falling Out
Meaning: A disagreement or estrangement between family members.
In a Sentence:
They had a falling out over the family business.
Her falling out with her sister caused family tension.
Other Ways to Say: Family feud, Rift, Dispute
14. Father Figure
Meaning: A man who acts as a supportive, guiding figure like a father.
In a Sentence:
Her uncle was a father figure during her childhood.
He became a father figure to his younger cousins.
Other Ways to Say: Role model, Mentor, Parental guide
15. Helicopter Parenting
Meaning: Overprotective parenting, constantly hovering over children.
In a Sentence:
Her helicopter parenting made it hard for him to be independent.
Helicopter parenting can overwhelm family dynamics.
Other Ways to Say: Overprotective parenting, Hovering parents, Smothering care
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Funny People and Humor
16. Kith and Kin
Meaning: Friends and family, emphasizing close relationships.
In a Sentence:
She invited all her kith and kin to the reunion.
He values his kith and kin above all else.
Other Ways to Say: Family and friends, Loved ones, Close relations
17. Mama’s Boy
Meaning: A man or boy overly attached to or influenced by his mother.
In a Sentence:
He’s a mama’s boy, always checking in with her.
Being a mama’s boy, he values his mom’s advice.
Other Ways to Say: Mother’s favorite, Tied to mom, Mommy’s boy
18. One Big Happy Family
Meaning: A group, often a family, that gets along well and is harmonious.
In a Sentence:
They’re one big happy family at the annual gathering.
The team works like one big happy family.
Other Ways to Say: Close-knit family, Harmonious group, United clan
19. Blood Is Thicker Than Water
Meaning: Family ties are stronger than other relationships.
In a Sentence:
She chose to help her sister because blood is thicker than water.
Blood is thicker than water, so he stood by his family.
Other Ways to Say: Family comes first, Kin over friends, Family loyalty
20. Bad Blood
Meaning: Ongoing hostility or resentment between family members.
In a Sentence:
There’s bad blood between the siblings after the argument.
Bad blood in the family made reunions tense.
Other Ways to Say: Family feud, Animosity, Rift
21. Family Tree
Meaning: A diagram or concept of a family’s lineage or ancestry.
In a Sentence:
She traced her family tree back to the 1800s.
His family tree includes many notable figures.
Other Ways to Say: Ancestry, Lineage, Family history
22. Dysfunctional Family
Meaning: A family with unhealthy or problematic dynamics.
In a Sentence:
Growing up in a dysfunctional family was challenging for her.
The movie portrayed a dysfunctional family with drama.
Other Ways to Say: Troubled family, Broken home, Unhealthy clan
23. Like Mother, Like Daughter
Meaning: A daughter shares similar traits or behaviors with her mother.
In a Sentence:
She’s creative, like her mother, like her daughter.
Like mother, like daughter, they both love gardening.
Other Ways to Say: Chip off the old block, Take after mom, Similar to mother
24. Keep It in the Family
Meaning: To handle matters within the family, often privately.
In a Sentence:
They prefer to keep it in the family when solving disputes.
He kept it in the family, not sharing the business secrets.
Other Ways to Say: Stay private, Family matters, Keep it close
25. The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree
Meaning: Children often resemble their parents in behavior or traits.
In a Sentence:
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree; she’s just like her dad.
His ambition shows the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Other Ways to Say: Like parent, like child, Chip off the old block, Take after
26. Blood Ties
Meaning: Strong connections due to family relationships.
In a Sentence:
Blood ties kept them close despite disagreements.
She valued her blood ties with her extended family.
Other Ways to Say: Family bonds, Kinship, Close relations
27. Family Values
Meaning: Beliefs or principles upheld by a family.
In a Sentence:
Their family values emphasize honesty and loyalty.
He was raised with strong family values.
Other Ways to Say: Family principles, Household beliefs, Core values
28. Home Is Where the Heart Is
Meaning: Family or loved ones make a place feel like home.
In a Sentence:
She believes home is where the heart is, with her family.
Home is where the heart is, surrounded by kin.
Other Ways to Say: Family is home, Loved ones matter, Heart’s at home
29. Tie the Knot
Meaning: To get married, forming a new family unit.
In a Sentence:
They tied the knot and started a family.
She’s excited to tie the knot with her partner.
Other Ways to Say: Get married, Wed, Start a family
30. Family Feud
Meaning: A prolonged conflict or disagreement within a family.
In a Sentence:
The family feud over inheritance lasted years.
Their family feud caused tension at gatherings.
Other Ways to Say: Bad blood, Family rift, Dispute
31. Breadwinner
Meaning: The person who earns money to support the family.
In a Sentence:
She’s the breadwinner, supporting her family’s needs.
He’s proud to be the breadwinner for his household.
Other Ways to Say: Provider, Earner, Bring home the bacon
32. Run a Tight Ship at Home
Meaning: To manage a family or household strictly and efficiently.
In a Sentence:
She runs a tight ship at home, keeping everyone organized.
He runs a tight ship at home with clear family rules.
Other Ways to Say: Manage strictly, Keep order, Discipline at home
33. Skeleton in the Closet
Meaning: A hidden family secret that could cause shame.
In a Sentence:
Every family has a skeleton in the closet.
Their skeleton in the closet was revealed at the reunion.
Other Ways to Say: Family secret, Hidden shame, Dark past
34. Cut from the Same Cloth
Meaning: Very similar in character or behavior, often within a family.
In a Sentence:
They’re cut from the same cloth, both stubborn.
She and her sister are cut from the same cloth.
Other Ways to Say: Alike, Similar, Like two peas in a pod
35. Wear the Pants in the Family
Meaning: To be the dominant or decision-making member of the family.
In a Sentence:
She wears the pants in the family, making key decisions.
He wears the pants in the family, leading with authority.
Other Ways to Say: Be in charge, Call the shots, Lead the household
Related Post: 50 Idioms for The Best to Sound Natural
36. Close-Knit Family
Meaning: A family that is tightly bonded and supportive.
In a Sentence:
They’re a close-knit family, always there for each other.
Her close-knit family gathers every weekend.
Other Ways to Say: Tight family, United clan, Bonded household
37. Family Ties
Meaning: Emotional or relational bonds between family members.
In a Sentence:
Family ties kept them together through tough times.
She cherishes her family ties with her cousins.
Other Ways to Say: Blood ties, Kinship bonds, Family connections
38. Pass Down Through the Family
Meaning: To hand down traditions, traits, or items through generations.
In a Sentence:
The recipe was passed down through the family.
Their work ethic was passed down through the family.
Other Ways to Say: Handed down, Inherited, Family legacy
39. Like Two Peas in a Pod
Meaning: Very similar, especially in a family, like siblings or relatives.
In a Sentence:
The twins are like two peas in a pod.
She and her mom are like two peas in a pod.
Other Ways to Say: Very similar, Cut from the same cloth, Alike
40. The Family Way
Meaning: Being pregnant or starting a family.
In a Sentence:
She’s in the family way, expecting her first child.
They’re excited to be in the family way soon.
Other Ways to Say: Pregnant, Expecting, Starting a family
41. Keep Up with the Joneses
Meaning: To strive to match the lifestyle or status of other families.
In a Sentence:
They’re always trying to keep up with the Joneses.
Her family felt pressure to keep up with the Joneses.
Other Ways to Say: Compete socially, Match others, Strive for status
42. Born and Bred
Meaning: Raised in a specific family or place, shaping identity.
In a Sentence:
He’s a born and bred family man from the countryside.
She was born and bred in a musical family.
Other Ways to Say: Raised, Brought up, Shaped by family
43. Family Resemblance
Meaning: Physical or behavioral similarities among family members.
In a Sentence:
The family resemblance between them is striking.
Her smile shows a strong family resemblance.
Other Ways to Say: Lookalike traits, Shared features, Family likeness
44. In the Blood
Meaning: A trait or talent inherent in a family, often genetic.
In a Sentence:
Music is in the blood of their family.
His bravery seems to be in the blood.
Other Ways to Say: In the genes, Hereditary, Family trait
45. Home Sweet Home
Meaning: A warm expression for the comfort of family and home.
In a Sentence:
There’s no place like home sweet home with family.
She returned to her home sweet home after a long trip.
Other Ways to Say: Family haven, Cozy home, Warm household
46. A Family Affair
Meaning: An event or situation involving only family members.
In a Sentence:
The reunion was a family affair, full of love.
Their business is a family affair, run by siblings.
Other Ways to Say: Family matter, Kin event, Close-knit occasion
47. Thick as Thieves
Meaning: Very close, like family members with a strong bond.
In a Sentence:
The cousins are thick as thieves, always together.
They’re thick as thieves, like a tight family.
Other Ways to Say: Very close, Inseparable, Like family
48. Raise a Family
Meaning: To bring up or nurture children in a family.
In a Sentence:
They plan to raise a family in the countryside.
She’s focused on raising a family with love.
Other Ways to Say: Start a family, Bring up kids, Build a household
49. Family Secrets
Meaning: Private or hidden information known only to family members.
In a Sentence:
Every family has its family secrets tucked away.
Their family secrets were revealed at the gathering.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden truths, Private matters, Closet skeletons
50. The Head of the Household
Meaning: The primary decision-maker or leader in a family.
In a Sentence:
He’s the head of the household, guiding the family.
She became the head of the household after her parents.
Other Ways to Say: Family leader, Household chief, Main provider
Conclusion
The stories we share about loved ones deserve language that feels alive and meaningful. Using idioms for family lets you go beyond ordinary words, adding warmth, humor, and depth to every conversation. Try bringing these expressions into your daily life, and watch how they make your connections with others feel even closer and more memorable.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
