Parents play a pivotal role in our lives, guiding, supporting, and shaping us. The English language, rich in its expressiveness, offers numerous idioms that capture the nuances of parental relationships, their influence, and the dynamics within families. These phrases add color and depth to how we talk about the unique bond between parents and children. This guide explores 40 idioms related to parents, providing clear meanings, illustrative sentences, and alternative ways to express them. A fill-in-the-blank exercise is included to help you integrate these expressions into your vocabulary.
40 Idioms About Parents with Meanings and Examples
Like father, like son
Meaning: Sons often resemble their fathers in character or behavior.
Example: Jake loves baseball, just like his dad. Like father, like son.
Other Ways to Say: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, A chip off the old block.
Mother hen
Meaning: Someone who is very protective and nurturing, often excessively so.
Example: Sarah was being a mother hen, making sure everyone wore their jackets.
Other Ways to Say: Overprotective, Helicopter parent.
Papa bear
Meaning: A father who is very protective of his children.
Example: Dad turned into a papa bear when someone picked on his son.
Other Ways to Say: Protective dad, Watchful parent.
Tough love
Meaning: Strict or firm actions taken to help someone learn or improve, even if it seems harsh.
Example: My parents showed tough love when they made me clean up my mess.
Other Ways to Say: Firm parenting, Strict guidance.
Mama’s boy
Meaning: A boy or man who is very close to or dependent on his mother.
Example: Brian’s friends teased him for being a mama’s boy, but he didn’t mind.
Other Ways to Say: Mom’s favorite, Mother’s darling.
Father figure
Meaning: Someone who acts as a father to another person, providing guidance and support.
Example: The coach was like a father figure to the boys on the team.
Other Ways to Say: Male role model, Protector.
Stay-at-home mom
Meaning: A mother who manages the household and raises children full-time.
Example: My mom is a stay-at-home mom who takes care of everything for us.
Other Ways to Say: Homemaker, Full-time parent.
Working dad
Meaning: A father who is employed outside the home to provide for his family.
Example: My dad is a working dad, so he’s not home until late.
Other Ways to Say: Breadwinner, Employed father.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Meaning: Children often share traits, talents, or behaviors with their parents.
Example: Lucy has her mom’s talent for painting. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Other Ways to Say: Like father, like son, A chip off the old block.
Parents know best
Meaning: A belief that parents make decisions in their children’s best interests.
Example: I didn’t agree, but I realized my parents know best.
Other Ways to Say: Listen to your parents, Trust your elders.
Born with a silver spoon
Meaning: Someone who was born into a wealthy or privileged family.
Example: Ashley was born with a silver spoon and never had to worry about money.
Other Ways to Say: Privileged upbringing, Born into wealth.
Like mother, like daughter
Meaning: Daughters often resemble or behave like their mothers.
Example: Emma loves gardening, just like her mom. Like mother, like daughter.
Other Ways to Say: Takes after her mom, Just like her mother.
Tie the apron strings
Meaning: To be overly dependent on one’s parents, often used when encouraging independence.
Example: It’s time for you to tie the apron strings and live on your own.
Other Ways to Say: Cut the cord, Be independent.
Helicopter parent
Meaning: A parent who is overly involved and watchful of their child’s life.
Example: Lisa’s helicopter mom always watches over her homework.
Other Ways to Say: Overbearing parent, Micromanaging parent.
Proud as a peacock
Meaning: Extremely proud, often used to describe parents’ pride in their children’s achievements.
Example: Dad was proud as a peacock when I won the spelling bee.
Other Ways to Say: Overjoyed, Beaming with pride.
Empty nest
Meaning: The feeling of loneliness or sadness parents experience when their children leave home.
Example: Now that their kids are in college, they’re adjusting to the empty nest.
Other Ways to Say: Lonely house, Child-free home.
Spitting image
Meaning: Someone who looks exactly like another person, especially a parent.
Example: Sarah is the spitting image of her mom when she was young.
Other Ways to Say: Lookalike, Carbon copy.
It runs in the family
Meaning: A characteristic, talent, or trait that is common among family members.
Example: Music talent runs in the family; everyone can play an instrument.
Other Ways to Say: Family trait, Passed down.
Overprotective parent
Meaning: A parent who tries too hard to shield their children from risks or difficulties.
Example: My mom is overprotective and doesn’t let me ride my bike alone.
Other Ways to Say: Hovering parent, Too cautious.
Family man
Meaning: A man who is deeply devoted to his family.
Example: John is a family man who loves spending time with his wife and kids.
Other Ways to Say: Devoted father, Caring dad.
Put food on the table
Meaning: To earn enough money to support one’s family.
Example: Dad works hard to put food on the table for us.
Other Ways to Say: Provide for the family, Earn a living.
Strict parent
Meaning: A parent who enforces many rules and expects discipline.
Example: My dad is a strict parent and doesn’t let us stay up late.
Other Ways to Say: Firm parent, Rule-enforcer.
Bring home the bacon
Meaning: To earn money to support the family.
Example: Dad works two jobs to bring home the bacon for our family.
Other Ways to Say: Earn a paycheck, Support the household.
Parent trap
Meaning: A situation where children try to manipulate their parents, often to get something.
Example: Don’t fall for the parent trap when the kids ask for extra candy.
Other Ways to Say: Manipulative situation, Tricky parenting moment.
Tiger mom
Meaning: A mother who is very strict and pushes her child to achieve high levels of success.
Example: Everyone knows she’s a tiger mom when it comes to her kids’ grades.
Other Ways to Say: Hard-driving mom, Demanding mother.
Baby of the family
Meaning: The youngest child in a family.
Example: Lily is the baby of the family and always gets the most attention.
Other Ways to Say: Youngest sibling, Last-born.
Parental guidance
Meaning: Advice, instruction, or supervision from parents.
Example: I couldn’t have finished my project without parental guidance.
Other Ways to Say: Parent’s advice, Guidance from parents.
Father’s Day dad
Meaning: A father who is more present on special occasions than in daily life.
Example: He’s a Father’s Day dad who only shows up for special occasions.
Other Ways to Say: Absent dad, Occasional parent.
Mother instinct
Meaning: A natural, innate ability to care for or sense a child’s needs.
Example: Mom’s mother instinct helped her know I was feeling sick.
Other Ways to Say: Maternal sense, Motherly feeling.
Family First
Meaning: Prioritizing the needs and well-being of one’s family above all else.
Example: Dad always says “family first” when it comes to making decisions.
Other Ways to Say: Prioritize family, Family comes first.
Family values
Meaning: Moral and ethical principles traditionally upheld within a family.
Example: Our family values include honesty and respect for elders.
Other Ways to Say: Shared principles, Core beliefs.
Like parent, like child
Meaning: A general statement that children often resemble their parents.
Example: He’s very artistic, like his mother; like parent, like child.
Other Ways to Say: Inherited traits, Similar characteristics.
Breadwinner
Meaning: The person in a family who earns the money to support the others.
Example: After her husband lost his job, she became the family’s sole breadwinner.
Other Ways to Say: Provider, Main earner.
To raise a family
Meaning: To bring up children.
Example: They moved to the countryside to raise a family.
Other Ways to Say: Parent, Bring up children.
Head of the household
Meaning: The main decision-maker or authority figure in a family.
Example: As the eldest, she became the head of the household after her parents passed.
Other Ways to Say: Family leader, Patriarch/Matriarch.
Family ties
Meaning: Strong bonds or connections between family members.
Example: Despite living far apart, their family ties remained strong.
Other Ways to Say: Family bonds, Kinship.
Chip off the old block
Meaning: Someone who is very similar in character or appearance to their parent.
Example: He’s a chip off the old block, just as stubborn as his father.
Other Ways to Say: Like parent, like child; Resembles parent.
Generation gap
Meaning: A difference in values, beliefs, or attitudes between younger and older generations.
Example: There’s a generation gap in understanding technology.
Other Ways to Say: Generational divide, Age difference.
To follow in someone’s footsteps
Meaning: To do the same job or achieve the same success as someone else, often a parent.
Example: He decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a doctor.
Other Ways to Say: Emulate, Mimic success.
Parental leave
Meaning: A period of time off work allowed to a parent to care for a new baby.
Example: She took parental leave after her child was born.
Other Ways to Say: Maternity/Paternity leave, Family leave.
Exercise: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct idiom from the list above.
- My dad works hard every day to _______ food on the table for our family.
- When Sara got straight A’s, her mom was as _______ as a peacock.
- Since Jake loves fishing like his dad, people say, “Like _______, like son.”
- Ashley looks exactly like her mom; she’s the spitting _______ of her.
- Mom is so overprotective, sometimes she acts like a _______ hen.
- After their last child left for college, the house felt like an _______ nest.
- Mom said talent for drawing runs in the _______ because Grandma is an artist too.
- He’s the _______ of the family and always gets extra attention from everyone.
- Dad’s mother _______ kicked in when he noticed I wasn’t feeling well.
- Uncle Joe became a _______ figure for me after my dad moved away for work.
- My parents showed _______ love when they made me clean up my mess.
- Don’t fall for the _______ trap when the kids ask for extra candy.
- She’s a _______ mom when it comes to her kids’ grades, always pushing them.
- He was born with a _______ spoon and never had to worry about money.
- He’s very similar to his father; he’s a _______ off the old block.
- The most important thing for us is _______ First, before anything else.
- She decided to _______ in her mother’s footsteps and become a teacher.
- There’s often a _______ gap between teenagers and their grandparents regarding technology.
- After graduating, she became the primary _______ for her younger siblings.
- As the eldest, my sister is the _______ of the household now.
Answers to the Exercise
- Put
- Proud
- Father
- Image
- Mother
- Empty
- Family
- Baby
- Instinct
- Father
- Tough
- Parent
- Tiger
- Silver
- Chip
- Family
- Follow
- Generation
- Breadwinner
- Head
Conclusion
Idioms about parents offer unique ways to describe the diverse experiences and relationships within families. Learning these 40 expressions can help you communicate more vividly and connect with others more effectively. Use this guide to deepen your understanding and incorporate these engaging phrases into your everyday English.