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born and bred

Idioms  

  1. Born and educated in a single locale or social class. For example, Adam was a Bostonian, born and bred. Although the two words were paired earlier, the precise locution dates from the mid-1800s.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And he’s Southern California born and bred, the product of esteemed diamond factory Harvard-Westlake High.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

"I'm an Annan person, born and bred," he said.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

Concerns about the pace of change are not limited to those born and bred in this part of the Pennines.

From BBC • May 12, 2025

Keep in mind, I was born and bred in North Jersey.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2025

“Willie plans on building a professional class. One born and bred in Spanish Harlem.”

From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.