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Black sheep. A black sheep stands out from the flock. The Black Sheep from a 1901 edition of Mother Goose by William Wallace Denslow. In the English language, black sheep is an idiom that describes a member of a group who is different from the rest, especially a family member who does not fit in.
Jan 31, 2024 · The term stems from sheep whose fleece is colored black rather than the more common white; these sheep stand out in the flock, and their wool is worth less as it cannot be dyed. The term has typically been given negative connotations, implying waywardness.
Mar 24, 2024 · The meaning of BLACK SHEEP is a disfavored or disreputable member of a group. How to use black sheep in a sentence.
noun [ S ] uk / ˌblæk ˈʃiːp / us / ˌblæk ˈʃiːp / Add to word list. a person who has done something bad that brings embarrassment or shame to his or her family: He's the black sheep of the family. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Family: relations in general. anti-family. auntie. baby daddy. baby mama. fatherhood. filially. first cousin.
The term “black sheep” refers to someone or something that is different or out of place in a group. It can be used in a negative or a positive way, depending on the context and the individual being described.
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The origin of the phrase comes from the rare presence in a flock of white sheep of a sheep with black fleece. Rather than being a delightful surprise, these black sheep were a disappointment, since their wool couldn't be dyed. Definitions of black sheep. noun. sheep with a black coat.
Aug 21, 2001 · A black sheep is a member of the group/family regarded as a disgrace, an embarrassment, a ne’er-do-well, the odd man out. The phrase arose in the late 18th century, probably from an older proverb, “There’s a black sheep in every flock.” Black sheep, in those balmy pre-industrial days, were not as valuable as white sheep.
