Family: English Vocabulary List

a child who had parents that were not married to one another

"The king acknowledged his love child."

"The king acknowledged his love child and the boy was given a title and a small estate."

used to refer to a child whose parents were not married at the time of birth

"He was born on the wrong side of the blanket."

"The child was born on the wrong side of the blanket and never knew his real father growing up."

used to refer to a place one was born or grew up in

"She was born and bred."

"She is a Londoner born and bred and knows every street and corner of the city perfectly."

to be expecting a child

"She has a bun oven."

"The happy couple announced to their families that they have a bun in the oven."

to protect or treat someone or something in an overly cautious or overprotective manner

"Don't wrap kids."

"You cannot wrap your children in cotton wool forever because they need to learn from their own mistakes eventually."

a specific sibling combination consisting of a boy and a girl, typically born consecutively in the same family

"They have a pigeon pair"

"They have a pigeon pair one boy and one girl and their family is now complete."

used to describe someone with whom one shares a family relation

"She is my blood."

"He couldn't abandon his own flesh and blood, even when they disagreed."

a lecture or reprimand a wife gives to her husband in private

"She gave him a curtain lecture."

"She gave him a curtain lecture after the guests left and scolded him for his rude jokes."

someone who is regarded as shameful, embarrassing, or disgraceful within their family or group

"He is the black sheep."

"He is the black sheep of the family and chose a career in art instead of medicine like his siblings."

someone who closely resembles their parent, especially in terms of personality, traits, or behavior

"He is a chip."

"The young boy is a chip off the old block he looks just like his father and has the same sense of humour."

to disinherit or withdraw financial support from a family member as a way to express disapproval or to enforce certain behaviors or decisions

"His dad cut him."

"The disappointed parents decided to cut their rebellious son off with a penny after he refused to follow their advice."

used to refer to the youngest child of a family

"He is the Benjamin."

"As the youngest child he is the Benjamin of the family and everyone spoils him terribly."

used to refer to the passing down of traditions, knowledge, values, or skills from one generation to the next, especially from a father to his son

"The business passed from father to son."

"The family business has been passed down from father to son for over five generations successfully."

a woman that is regarded as the one who provides for her family

"He calls his mother "Big Mama"."

"He calls his mother Big Mama and she is the matriarch of the large extended family."