Parents help us learn, grow, and feel safe. They do many things for us every day, like cooking meals, helping with homework, and giving advice. To talk about parents in fun and meaningful ways, people often use idioms. Idioms are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. They have special meanings we understand from how they’re used.
In this article, we will look at idioms about parents. These sayings can tell us how parents act, how we feel about them, or what role they play in our lives. Learning these idioms can help us understand common sayings we hear at home, in books, or on TV. Let’s explore them together.
Idioms about Parents
1. Like father, like son
Meaning: A son often acts like his dad.
Sample Sentences: Jake plays baseball just like his dad. Like father, like son. / He loves fixing cars, just like his father.
Other Way to Say: He takes after his dad. / He’s just like his father.
2. Mama’s boy
Meaning: A boy who is very close to his mom.
Sample Sentences: Kevin always tells his mom everything. He’s a mama’s boy. / People say he’s a mama’s boy because he never leaves her side.
Other Way to Say: Very close to mom. / Always around his mother.
3. Daddy’s girl
Meaning: A girl who is very close to her dad.
Sample Sentences: Sarah is a daddy’s girl. She watches football with him every weekend. / She always runs to her dad first.
Other Way to Say: Close to her father. / Her dad’s favorite.
4. Runs in the family
Meaning: A trait or habit shared by family members.
Sample Sentences: Being good at math runs in the family. / They all love cooking it runs in the family.
Other Way to Say: Family trait. / It’s common in their family.
5. Chip off the old block
Meaning: A child who looks or acts like a parent.
Sample Sentences: Tom walks and talks like his dad. He’s a chip off the old block. / She’s a chip off the old block with her jokes.
Other Way to Say: Just like dad or mom. / Acts the same as a parent.
6. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Meaning: Children are similar to their parents.
Sample Sentences: She’s great at painting, just like her mom. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. / He’s always late like his dad.
Other Way to Say: Just like the parent. / Acts like mom or dad.
7. Spare the rod, spoil the child
Meaning: If you never correct children, they may misbehave.
Sample Sentences: My grandma always says, “Spare the rod, spoil the child.” / Parents need to teach right from wrong.
Other Way to Say: Kids need rules. / Teach discipline.
8. Honor your father and mother
Meaning: Show respect to your parents.
Sample Sentences: It’s good to honor your father and mother by listening to them. / She honors her parents by helping them at home.
Other Way to Say: Respect your parents. / Be kind to them.
9. Helicopter parent
Meaning: A parent who watches everything a child does.
Sample Sentences: His mom is a helicopter parent she won’t let him go to the park alone. / She checks his homework every five minutes.
Other Way to Say: Always watching. / Overprotective parent.
10. Put your foot down
Meaning: A parent making a firm decision.
Sample Sentences: Dad put his foot down and said no video games after 8 PM. / Mom put her foot down about bedtime.
Other Way to Say: Be strict. / Make a strong rule.
11. Over my dead body
Meaning: A parent says no very strongly.
Sample Sentences: “Can I get a pet snake?” “Over my dead body!” said Mom. / Dad said, “Over my dead body,” when I asked to stay out late.
Other Way to Say: No way. / Not going to happen.
12. Father figure
Meaning: A man who acts like a dad, even if he isn’t.
Sample Sentences: My coach is like a father figure to me. / He helps with homework like a father figure.
Other Way to Say: Like a dad. / A caring male role model.
13. Mother hen
Meaning: Someone who watches over others carefully.
Sample Sentences: She acts like a mother hen, always making sure we wear jackets. / My aunt is a mother hen when we’re sick.
Other Way to Say: Protective. / Caring like a mom.
14. Father time
Meaning: A way to talk about getting older.
Sample Sentences: Dad says Father Time is making his back hurt. / Grandpa blames Father Time for his gray hair.
Other Way to Say: Time passing. / Getting old.
15. Big shoes to fill
Meaning: A child has to live up to a parent’s great example.
Sample Sentences: His dad was a great doctor. He has big shoes to fill. / She wants to be as kind as her mom big shoes to fill.
Other Way to Say: A tough act to follow. / A big challenge.
16. Two peas in a pod
Meaning: A parent and child who are very alike.
Sample Sentences: My mom and I are two peas in a pod. / Dad and I love the same music.
Other Way to Say: Just alike. / Very close.
17. Born with their parents’ brains
Meaning: Smart like their mom or dad.
Sample Sentences: He’s great at science, just like his mom. / She was born with her parents’ brains for math.
Other Way to Say: Inherited smarts. / Smart like mom or dad.
18. Follow in their footsteps
Meaning: Do what your parent did.
Sample Sentences: I want to follow in Dad’s footsteps and be a teacher. / She followed in her mom’s footsteps as a nurse.
Other Way to Say: Do the same thing. / Copy a parent’s path.
19. Carry the family name
Meaning: Keep the family proud or known.
Sample Sentences: He works hard to carry the family name. / She wants to carry the family name with pride.
Other Way to Say: Represent the family. / Make family proud.
20. Put food on the table
Meaning: Work to support the family.
Sample Sentences: Dad works late to put food on the table. / Mom’s job helps put food on the table.
Other Way to Say: Earn money for family. / Provide for the family.
21. Parent trap
Meaning: A tricky situation involving parents.
Sample Sentences: I asked Mom first, then Dad. I was in a parent trap. / Telling one parent one thing and the other something else is a parent trap.
Other Way to Say: Tricky with parents. / Caught between parents.
22. Bundle of joy
Meaning: A baby or child who brings happiness.
Sample Sentences: When I was born, Mom called me her bundle of joy. / The new baby is a real bundle of joy.
Other Way to Say: Happy baby. / Brings smiles.
23. Rule with an iron fist
Meaning: A parent who is very strict.
Sample Sentences: Dad rules with an iron fist when it comes to chores. / Mom ruled with an iron fist about grades.
Other Way to Say: Very strict. / Strong rules.
24. Behind every great kid is a great parent
Meaning: Good kids often have caring parents.
Sample Sentences: She’s polite and smart. Her parents must be great. / Behind every great kid is a great parent.
Other Way to Say: Parents help kids grow. / Good parents raise good kids.
25. Bring home the bacon
Meaning: Earn money for the family.
Sample Sentences: Mom brings home the bacon with her job. / Dad works weekends to bring home the bacon.
Other Way to Say: Provide income. / Support the family.
26. On their last nerve
Meaning: A child is annoying their parent.
Sample Sentences: I kept asking for candy and got on Dad’s last nerve. / Mom said we were on her last nerve during the road trip.
Other Way to Say: Making someone annoyed. / Pushing limits.
27. Hand-me-downs
Meaning: Clothes or items passed from one child to another.
Sample Sentences: I wore my sister’s old coat. It was a hand-me-down. / We get hand-me-downs from our cousins.
Other Way to Say: Used clothes. / Passed-down things.
28. Mom-and-pop store
Meaning: A small family-run business.
Sample Sentences: My parents run a mom-and-pop grocery shop. / We buy candy from the local mom-and-pop store.
Other Way to Say: Family business. / Small shop.
29. Teach them the ropes
Meaning: Parents showing kids how to do things.
Sample Sentences: Dad taught me the ropes at the garage. / Mom teaches me the ropes in the kitchen.
Other Way to Say: Show how it’s done. / Give guidance.
30. A face only a mother could love
Meaning: A funny way to say someone looks odd but is still loved.
Sample Sentences: That puppy is funny-looking, but Mom loves it. / He jokes that his messy hair is a face only a mother could love.
Other Way to Say: Loved no matter what. / Funny but loved.
31. Speak when spoken to
Meaning: A rule many parents give to kids.
Sample Sentences: Mom said, “Speak when spoken to” at the dinner table. / At Grandpa’s house, we had to speak when spoken to.
Other Way to Say: Don’t talk first. / Wait your turn.
32. Don’t air dirty laundry
Meaning: Don’t share family problems in public.
Sample Sentences: Mom says we don’t air dirty laundry outside the house. / Dad told us not to argue in front of guests.
Other Way to Say: Keep family matters private. / Don’t share problems.
33. Black sheep of the family
Meaning: A family member who is very different.
Sample Sentences: Uncle Joe is the black sheep he moved far away and travels. / Everyone’s a doctor, but he’s a clown.
Other Way to Say: The odd one out. / Different from others.
34. Home is where the heart is
Meaning: Family makes a place feel like home.
Sample Sentences: Even on vacation, I miss home. Home is where the heart is. / I feel at home when I’m with my parents.
Other Way to Say: Love makes a home. / Family is what matters.
35. Parent’s pride and joy
Meaning: A child who makes their parents very proud.
Sample Sentences: He’s their pride and joy after winning the spelling bee. / She’s her mom’s pride and joy for helping others.
Other Way to Say: Makes parents proud. / Their special child.
36. Rules the roost
Meaning: The parent who makes the decisions at home.
Sample Sentences: Dad rules the roost when it comes to money. / Mom rules the roost on school nights.
Other Way to Say: In charge. / Makes the rules.
37. Like pulling teeth
Meaning: Very hard to get a child to do something.
Sample Sentences: Getting my brother to clean his room is like pulling teeth. / Mom says getting us to eat veggies is like pulling teeth.
Other Way to Say: Very hard. / Tough to do.
38. In the doghouse
Meaning: A parent is upset with someone.
Sample Sentences: I forgot to feed the cat. Now I’m in the doghouse with Dad. / He broke Mom’s vase and was in the doghouse all week.
Other Way to Say: In trouble. / Someone’s mad at you.
39. Tie the apron strings
Meaning: A parent won’t let the child be independent.
Sample Sentences: Mom won’t let me go alone she still has the apron strings tied. / He needs to cut the apron strings and try it on his own.
Other Way to Say: Too protective. / Needs to give freedom.
40. Hand-holding
Meaning: Helping a child too much.
Sample Sentences: My dad stops hand-holding when I do homework now. / No more hand-holding you can do this alone.
Other Way to Say: Doing too much for someone. / Over-helping.
41. Baby steps
Meaning: Letting a child do something small on their own.
Sample Sentences: Mom lets me cross the street with baby steps. / Dad says I can take baby steps to learn to cook.
Other Way to Say: Small starts. / Go slow and steady.
42. Eat out of your hand
Meaning: A child who listens to everything a parent says.
Sample Sentences: My sister eats out of Mom’s hand she always obeys. / He eats out of Dad’s hand and does every chore.
Other Way to Say: Very obedient. / Follows closely.
43. Be grounded
Meaning: A parent punishes a child by taking away fun.
Sample Sentences: I broke a rule and got grounded no TV for a week. / She was grounded for being late.
Other Way to Say: Punished. / Can’t go out or have fun.
44. Parent talk
Meaning: A serious talk from mom or dad.
Sample Sentences: After I got a bad grade, I had a parent talk. / When you hear “We need to talk,” get ready for a parent talk.
Other Way to Say: Serious chat. / Talk about behavior.
45. Play favorites
Meaning: A parent seems to treat one child better.
Sample Sentences: My sister says Mom plays favorites when I get extra dessert. / Dad doesn’t play favorites he treats us all the same.
Other Way to Say: Show more love to one. / Unfair treatment.
46. Break the rules
Meaning: A child not following the parents’ rules.
Sample Sentences: I stayed up past bedtime and broke the rules. / She broke the rules and had to say sorry to Mom.
Other Way to Say: Didn’t follow directions. / Disobeyed.
47. Helicopter parenting
Meaning: Watching over a child too much.
Sample Sentences: Mom is into helicopter parenting. She checks every step I take. / Dad tries not to be a helicopter parent during homework.
Other Way to Say: Too involved. / Watching all the time.
48. Time-out
Meaning: A short punishment where the child sits quietly.
Sample Sentences: I got a time-out for yelling. / She sat in time-out for five minutes.
Other Way to Say: Take a break for misbehaving. / Sit alone as punishment.
49. It takes a village
Meaning: Many people help raise a child.
Sample Sentences: My aunts, uncles, and teachers help me Mom says it takes a village. / Raising kids isn’t easy. It takes a village.
Other Way to Say: Everyone helps. / Shared parenting.
50. Family first
Meaning: Parents teach that family matters most.
Sample Sentences: Dad always says, “Family first, then fun.” / Mom skipped a meeting because family comes first.
Other Way to Say: Put family before other things. / Family is top priority.
51. Spoil the child
Meaning: Give the child too much and cause bad habits.
Sample Sentences: Grandma buys me too many toys Mom says it might spoil the child. / Too much candy can spoil the child.
Other Way to Say: Over-give. / Give too much.
52. Baby of the family
Meaning: The youngest child who may get extra attention.
Sample Sentences: My little brother is the baby of the family. / She gets her way she’s the baby of the family.
Other Way to Say: Youngest child. / Last-born.
53. Family ties
Meaning: Strong connection with family.
Sample Sentences: We visit Grandma every Sunday because of family ties. / Family ties keep us close, even when we argue.
Other Way to Say: Strong bond. / Family connection.
54. Second parent
Meaning: A sibling who helps take care of others.
Sample Sentences: My big sister is like a second parent she helps me get ready. / He’s a second parent when Mom is busy.
Other Way to Say: Helps like a parent. / Older helper.
55. Blood is thicker than water
Meaning: Family comes before friends or others.
Sample Sentences: I forgave my brother because blood is thicker than water. / Even when we fight, we remember blood is thicker than water.
Other Way to Say: Family first. / Family sticks together.
Multiple Choice Questions: Idioms about Parents
1. What does “Like father, like son” mean?
A) They wear the same clothes
B) A son is similar to his dad
C) They both like sports
2. If someone is called a “mama’s boy,” what does that mean?
A) He is afraid of his mom
B) He is very close to his mom
C) He doesn’t listen to his mom
3. What does “chip off the old block” mean?
A) The kid is very strong
B) The kid broke something
C) The kid is a lot like a parent
4. What does “helicopter parent” mean?
A) A parent who flies planes
B) A parent who gives too much freedom
C) A parent who watches the child too closely
5. If a parent “puts their foot down,” what are they doing?
A) Getting ready to dance
B) Saying “no” in a strong way
C) Walking away from the child
6. What does “black sheep of the family” mean?
A) Someone who wears black
B) A family member who is very different
C) Someone who likes animals
7. What does “follow in their footsteps” mean?
A) To walk behind someone
B) To do what your parent did
C) To copy someone’s shoes
8. If someone is in “time-out,” what happened?
A) They are going on a trip
B) They are being rewarded
C) They are being punished and must sit quietly
9. “Home is where the heart is” means:
A) Home is where love and family are
B) You can only eat at home
C) Your heart is always in your room
10. What does “spare the rod, spoil the child” suggest?
A) Kids need help learning right and wrong
B) Never play with sticks
C) Always spoil your child
11. What does “baby of the family” mean?
A) The firstborn
B) The youngest child
C) A child who acts like a baby
12. What does “blood is thicker than water” mean?
A) Water is not healthy
B) Family is more important than others
C) You should drink more juice
Answer Key
- B) A son is similar to his dad
- B) He is very close to his mom
- C) The kid is a lot like a parent
- C) A parent who watches the child too closely
- B) Saying “no” in a strong way
- B) A family member who is very different
- B) To do what your parent did
- C) They are being punished and must sit quietly
- A) Home is where love and family are
- A) Kids need help learning right and wrong
- B) The youngest child
- B) Family is more important than others
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Love Idioms Master!
You understand parent idioms very well. - 8–11 Correct Answers: Well on your way to understanding love idioms.
Keep practicing, you’re almost a pro! - 4–7 Correct Answers: Room for improvement, but you’re getting there!
You’re learning, try reviewing a few more. - 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s explore the world of love idioms together.
That’s okay! Idioms can be tricky. Keep going!
Conclusion
Parents do many things for us, and idioms help us talk about them in fun and clear ways. These sayings show how parents guide, protect, and care for their kids every day.
By learning idioms about parents, we can better understand how people describe family life. These phrases are part of everyday talk and can help us speak and write more clearly.
