in the family way

1. Pregnant, as in Mary's in the family way again. This euphemistic expression dates from the late 1700s and may be dying out.

Example Sentences

Giovana and Yago are soon in the family way, in a story that covers many years, a bit too breezily, and many ups and downs in this couple’s growing — and entirely unexpected — family.

Read more on Washington Post

When the call finally came, however, she had to inform the powers-that-be that she was in the family way.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In the 1990s and 2000s, Sweeney was a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” starred in “It’s Pat: The Movie,” appeared on TV shows such as “Frasier” and “Sex and the City,” and performed one-handers such as “God Said, ‘Ha!’” and “In the Family Way.”

Read more on New York Times

Austen finds her “as affectionate & pleasing as ever”, but notes to her sister that “from her appearance I suspect her to be in the family way. Poor Woman!”

Read more on The Guardian

The day I found out she was in the family way, I finally knew for sure they had.

Read more on Literature