Expression: Runs in the family
Definition: To be characteristic of a family or peculiar to a nation, ethnic group, or other group.
Usage: Richard Brinsley Sheridan used this expression in 1777 in The School for Scandal (3.3): “Learning that had run in the family like an heirloom!”
Synonyms:§
- Hereditary
- Genetic
- In the blood
- Passed down
- Handed down
Antonyms:§
- Unrelated
- Sporadic
- Uncommon
- Irregular
Similar Terms & Expressions:§
- The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
- Like father, like son
- A chip off the old block
- Blood is thicker than water
Humor-filled Quote:§
“Insanity runs in my family, it practically gallops.” — Cary Grant in Arsenic and Old Lace
Related Proverbs:§
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” — Meaning children often resemble their parents.
“A bad tree does not yield good apples.” — Bad roots often lead to bad outcomes.
🌟 Literature, Books, and Movies:§
- The School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- The Godfather by Mario Puzo
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) directed by Wes Anderson
🎵 Songs and Poetry:§
- “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge
- “Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin
- “Family Business” by Kanye West
- “Our House” by Madness
“In every conceivable manner, the family is a link to our past, bridge to our future.” — Alex Haley
Join us in exploring the quirks, the laughs, and the lessons passed down from generation to generation. Until next time, may your curiosities be ever inherited.
— Ethyl Inheritance
