black sheep
noun
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Origin of black sheep
Words nearby black sheep
Example sentences from the Web for black sheep
Clinton jokes that Barbara Bush refers to him as her “black-sheep son.”
But no matter—— There'd be intellectual conversation for the benefit of black-sheep new chums.
Children of the Bush|Henry LawsonWell, perhaps he was ashamed of me, for I was the black-sheep of the flock.
A Modern Aladdin|Howard Pyle
British Dictionary definitions for black sheep
noun
Cultural definitions for black sheep
A person who is considered a disgrace to a particular group, usually a family: “Uncle Jack, who was imprisoned for forgery, is the black sheep of the family.”
Idioms and Phrases with black sheep
The least reputable member of a group; a disgrace. For example, Uncle Fritz was the black sheep of the family; we always thought he emigrated to Argentina to avoid jail. This metaphor is based on the idea that black sheep were less valuable than white ones because it was more difficult to dye their wool different colors. Also, in the 16th century, their color was considered the devil's mark. By the 18th century the term was widely used as it is today, for the odd member of a group.