Idioms are vibrant, expressive phrases that add depth and color to our language, often carrying meanings that go beyond the literal words. When it comes to parents, idioms capture the essence of their roles, emotions, and relationships in creative and relatable ways. These phrases reflect the love, guidance, struggles, and sacrifices parents make while raising their children. For anyone looking to enrich their vocabulary or better understand the dynamics of parenting, learning these idioms is both enlightening and engaging.
Parenting-related idioms often highlight themes of care, responsibility, wisdom, and even the occasional frustration that comes with raising kids. They can inspire appreciation for the parental journey and provide a fun way to connect with others through shared experiences. In this blog post, we’ll explore 60 idioms about parents, their meanings, and how they can be used in everyday conversations. Plus, we’ve included a practical exercise to help you practice these idioms and make them a natural part of your speech. Let’s dive into the heartwarming and sometimes humorous world of idioms about parents!
Idioms About Parents
1. Bring home the bacon
Meaning: To provide financial support for the family.
In a Sentence: After working long hours at the factory, Dad always managed to bring home the bacon to keep us comfortable.
Other Ways to Say: Earn a living, Provide for the family
2. Like father, like son
Meaning: A son behaves or looks like his father.
In a Sentence: With his knack for fixing cars just like his dad, it’s clear that like father, like son applies to Jake.
Other Ways to Say: Chip off the old block, Takes after his father
3. Like mother, like daughter
Meaning: A daughter resembles or acts like her mother.
In a Sentence: Sarah’s love for baking is just like her mom’s—truly, like mother, like daughter!
Other Ways to Say: Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Follows in her mother’s footsteps
4. Chip off the old block
Meaning: A child who closely resembles their parent in behavior or appearance.
In a Sentence: With his quick wit and charm, young Tim is a chip off the old block, just like his dad.
Other Ways to Say: Like father, like son, Takes after their parent
5. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Meaning: A child shares similar traits or behaviors with their parents.
In a Sentence: Emma’s talent for painting is no surprise; the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with her artist mom.
Other Ways to Say: Like mother, like daughter, Follows in their footsteps
6. Spare the rod, spoil the child
Meaning: Discipline is necessary to raise well-behaved children.
In a Sentence: Mom believed that if you spare the rod, you spoil the child, so she set clear rules for us to follow.
Other Ways to Say: Be firm with kids, Discipline shapes character
7. Born with a silver spoon in their mouth
Meaning: Born into a wealthy or privileged family.
In a Sentence: With private tutors and fancy vacations, it’s clear the twins were born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
Other Ways to Say: Born into wealth, Raised in luxury
8. Keep the home fires burning
Meaning: To maintain the household and family life.
In a Sentence: While Dad was away on business, Mom kept the home fires burning with her nurturing care.
Other Ways to Say: Hold down the fort, Keep things running smoothly
9. Wear the pants in the family
Meaning: To be the decision-maker in the household.
In a Sentence: Everyone knows Mom wears the pants in the family when it comes to planning our vacations.
Other Ways to Say: Call the shots, Be in charge
10. Helicopter parent
Meaning: A parent who is overly involved in their child’s life.
In a Sentence: Checking my homework every night and calling my teachers made Mom a bit of a helicopter parent.
Other Ways to Say: Overprotective parent, Hovering mom or dad
11. Empty nest
Meaning: When children grow up and leave home, leaving parents alone.
In a Sentence: With both kids off to college, Mom and Dad are adjusting to their empty nest.
Other Ways to Say: Kids have flown the coop, House feels empty
12. Fly the coop
Meaning: When children leave home to live independently.
In a Sentence: Once I graduated high school, I was ready to fly the coop and start college life.
Other Ways to Say: Leave the nest, Move out
13. Hold down the fort
Meaning: To take care of things at home in someone’s absence.
In a Sentence: While Mom was at work, Dad held down the fort, making sure we did our chores.
Other Ways to Say: Keep things running, Manage the household
14. Blood is thicker than water
Meaning: Family bonds are stronger than other relationships.
In a Sentence: Even though they argue, blood is thicker than water, and they always support each other.
Other Ways to Say: Family comes first, Kinship is strong
15. Cut from the same cloth
Meaning: Very similar in character or behavior.
In a Sentence: Mom and her sister are cut from the same cloth, always laughing and telling stories.
Other Ways to Say: Two peas in a pod, Alike in nature
16. A tiger mom
Meaning: A strict or demanding mother who pushes her children to succeed.
In a Sentence: With her strict study schedule, Mrs. Lee earned the nickname of tiger mom among her kids’ friends.
Other Ways to Say: Strict mom, High-expectation parent
17. Bend over backwards
Meaning: To make a great effort to help someone.
In a Sentence: My parents bent over backwards to help me prepare for my college entrance exams.
Other Ways to Say: Go all out, Do everything possible
18. Burn the candle at both ends
Meaning: To exhaust oneself by doing too much.
In a Sentence: Between work and raising kids, Mom was burning the candle at both ends last month.
Other Ways to Say: Overwork oneself, Stretch too thin
19. Pass the torch
Meaning: To hand down responsibilities or traditions to the next generation.
In a Sentence: Grandpa passed the torch of storytelling to Dad, who now shares tales with us.
Other Ways to Say: Hand down traditions, Pass on the legacy
20. Lay down the law
Meaning: To set strict rules or boundaries.
In a Sentence: Dad laid down the law about no phones at the dinner table, and we all listened.
Other Ways to Say: Set the rules, Enforce discipline
21. Run a tight ship
Meaning: To manage a household or group with strict rules.
In a Sentence: With three kids, Mom runs a tight ship to keep everything organized.
Other Ways to Say: Keep things in order, Manage strictly
22. The hand that rocks the cradle
Meaning: The person (often a mother) who raises a child has great influence.
In a Sentence: Mom’s wisdom shaped me, proving the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
Other Ways to Say: Parents shape the future, Mothers influence greatly
23. Tug at the heartstrings
Meaning: To evoke strong emotions, especially love or sympathy.
In a Sentence: Seeing my daughter perform in the school play really tugged at my heartstrings.
Other Ways to Say: Stir emotions, Pull at the heart
24. In the same boat
Meaning: Facing the same challenges or situation.
In a Sentence: All the parents at the meeting were in the same boat, worried about school funding.
Other Ways to Say: In the same situation, Facing the same issue
25. Give the shirt off their back
Meaning: To be extremely generous and willing to help.
In a Sentence: My dad would give the shirt off his back to help a struggling neighbor.
Other Ways to Say: Be very generous, Help selflessly
26. Keep the wolf from the door
Meaning: To provide enough to avoid poverty or hardship.
In a Sentence: Working two jobs, Mom kept the wolf from the door to support our family.
Other Ways to Say: Avoid poverty, Make ends meet
27. A labor of love
Meaning: Work done out of love, not for reward.
In a Sentence: Sewing my prom dress was a labor of love for my mom, who stayed up all night.
Other Ways to Say: Work from the heart, Done for love
28. Teach an old dog new tricks
Meaning: It’s hard for older people to learn new ways.
In a Sentence: Dad struggled with the new smartphone, proving you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
Other Ways to Say: Hard to change habits, Set in their ways
29. A wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Someone who seems harmless but has bad intentions.
In a Sentence: The new coach seemed nice, but Mom warned he might be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Other Ways to Say: Deceptive person, Hidden agenda
30. Leave no stone unturned
Meaning: To try every possible way to achieve something.
In a Sentence: My parents left no stone unturned to find the best school for me.
Other Ways to Say: Try everything, Explore all options
31. Call the shots
Meaning: To be in charge and make decisions.
In a Sentence: In our house, Mom calls the shots when it comes to family vacations.
Other Ways to Say: Be in charge, Make the decisions
32. Keep your nose to the grindstone
Meaning: To work hard and stay focused.
In a Sentence: Dad kept his nose to the grindstone to provide for our education.
Other Ways to Say: Work diligently, Stay focused
33. The squeaky wheel gets the grease
Meaning: The person who complains the most gets attention.
In a Sentence: My little brother’s tantrums proved the squeaky wheel gets the grease from Mom.
Other Ways to Say: Complainers get noticed, Speak up to be heard
34. A tough nut to crack
Meaning: A difficult person or problem to deal with.
In a Sentence: Convincing Dad to let me go camping was a tough nut to crack.
Other Ways to Say: Hard to persuade, Difficult challenge
35. Bark is worse than their bite
Meaning: Someone seems scarier than they actually are.
In a Sentence: Mom yells sometimes, but her bark is worse than her bite.
Other Ways to Say: Seems tough but is gentle, All talk no action
36. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
Meaning: Don’t assume something will happen before it does.
In a Sentence: Dad warned me not to count my chickens before they hatch when I planned my party.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t assume success, Wait and see
37. A watched pot never boils
Meaning: Things seem to take longer when you focus on them.
In a Sentence: Mom said a watched pot never boils when I kept checking my college application status.
Other Ways to Say: Be patient, Don’t rush things
38. Out of the frying pan into the fire
Meaning: Going from a bad situation to a worse one.
In a Sentence: By avoiding homework, I went out of the frying pan into the fire with a bad grade.
Other Ways to Say: From bad to worse, Jump into trouble
39. The straw that broke the camel’s back
Meaning: The final small problem that causes a big reaction.
In a Sentence: Forgetting my chores was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Mom.
Other Ways to Say: The last straw, Tipping point
40. Preach to the choir
Meaning: To try to convince someone who already agrees.
In a Sentence: Telling Mom we need family time is like preaching to the choir—she plans it weekly.
Other Ways to Say: Tell someone what they know, No need to convince
41. A leopard can’t change its spots
Meaning: People can’t change their basic nature.
In a Sentence: Dad’s stubbornness shows a leopard can’t change its spots, no matter how we try.
Other Ways to Say: Can’t change who they are, Set in their ways
42. Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning: There’s something positive in every bad situation.
In a Sentence: When I failed the test, Mom said every cloud has a silver lining and helped me study.
Other Ways to Say: Look for the positive, There’s always hope
43. A dime a dozen
Meaning: Something very common and not special.
In a Sentence: Parenting advice is a dime a dozen, but Mom’s wisdom always stands out.
Other Ways to Say: Very common, Not unique
44. Actions speak louder than words
Meaning: What you do matters more than what you say.
In a Sentence: Dad showed actions speak louder than words by always being there for my games.
Other Ways to Say: Deeds over words, Show don’t tell
45. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Meaning: Don’t rely on one thing or plan.
In a Sentence: Mom advised not to put all my eggs in one basket when choosing colleges.
Other Ways to Say: Diversify your options, Don’t risk everything
46. The early bird catches the worm
Meaning: Being early or proactive leads to success.
In a Sentence: Dad woke us up early, saying the early bird catches the worm for good grades.
Other Ways to Say: Be proactive, Get a head start
47. Rome wasn’t built in a day
Meaning: Big achievements take time and effort.
In a Sentence: Mom reminded me that Rome wasn’t built in a day when I struggled with piano lessons.
Other Ways to Say: Take your time, Success takes effort
48. When in Rome, do as the Romans do
Meaning: Follow the customs or rules of a place.
In a Sentence: At Grandma’s house, Dad said when in Rome, do as the Romans do, so we helped with chores.
Other Ways to Say: Follow the rules, Blend in
49. Don’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Don’t judge someone based on appearance.
In a Sentence: Mom taught me not to judge a book by its cover when meeting new neighbors.
Other Ways to Say: Look beyond appearances, Don’t prejudge
50. A stitch in time saves nine
Meaning: Fixing a problem early prevents bigger issues.
In a Sentence: Dad fixed the leaky pipe early, proving a stitch in time saves nine.
Other Ways to Say: Act early, Prevent worse problems
51. All in the same boat
Meaning: Everyone is facing the same challenges.
In a Sentence: At the parent meeting, we were all in the same boat, worried about school safety.
Other Ways to Say: In the same situation, Sharing the same struggle
52. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater
Meaning: Don’t discard something valuable while getting rid of the bad.
In a Sentence: Mom said not to throw the baby out with the bathwater when I wanted to quit soccer entirely.
Other Ways to Say: Keep what’s good, Don’t overreact
53. A penny saved is a penny earned
Meaning: Saving money is as valuable as earning it.
In a Sentence: Dad taught me a penny saved is a penny earned by helping me budget my allowance.
Other Ways to Say: Save wisely, Value small savings
54. Birds of a feather flock together
Meaning: People with similar traits or interests stick together.
In a Sentence: Mom and her book club friends are birds of a feather, always discussing novels.
Other Ways to Say: Like-minded people connect, Similar people group
55. Too many cooks spoil the broth
Meaning: Too many people involved can ruin something.
In a Sentence: When both parents tried to plan my party, it proved too many cooks spoil the broth.
Other Ways to Say: Too many opinions, Overcrowded effort
56. You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs
Meaning: Some sacrifices are needed to achieve a goal.
In a Sentence: Mom said you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs when we had to move for Dad’s job.
Other Ways to Say: Sacrifices are necessary, No gain without pain
57. The grass is always greener on the other side
Meaning: People think others have it better.
In a Sentence: Dad warned that the grass is always greener on the other side when I envied my friend’s life.
Other Ways to Say: Others seem better off, Be content with what you have
58. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you
Meaning: Don’t harm or disrespect those who help you.
In a Sentence: Mom reminded me not to bite the hand that feeds me when I argued with her about chores.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t disrespect your helpers, Be grateful
59. Every dog has its day
Meaning: Everyone gets a chance to succeed or shine.
In a Sentence: Dad said every dog has its day when I felt discouraged about my grades.
Other Ways to Say: Your time will come, Everyone gets a chance
60. Home is where the heart is
Meaning: Home is wherever you feel loved and comfortable.
In a Sentence: Even after moving, Mom said home is where the heart is, and we’d make new memories.
Other Ways to Say: Home is about love, Family makes a home
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- Mom worked tirelessly to _______ home the bacon to support our family’s needs.
- With his love for fixing things, Tom is a _______ off the old block, just like his dad.
- My sister’s kindness shows the _______ doesn’t fall far from the tree, like our generous mom.
- Dad _______ down the law about finishing homework before playing video games.
- With all the kids gone, my parents are adjusting to their _______ nest.
- Mom’s strict rules earned her the nickname of _______ mom among my friends.
- My parents _______ over backwards to help me with my science fair project.
- Dad’s stubbornness proves a _______ can’t change its spots.
- Mom’s sewing my costume was a _______ of love, done with so much care.
- When both parents planned the vacation, it showed _______ many cooks spoil the broth.
- Dad said _______ is where the heart is, no matter where we live.
- Mom taught me a _______ in time saves nine by fixing small problems early.
Answers:
bring, chip, apple, laid, empty, tiger, bent, leopard, labor, too, home, stitch
Conclusion
Idioms about parents offer a unique and heartfelt way to describe the many facets of parenting, from love and sacrifice to discipline and guidance. These phrases not only enrich our language but also deepen our appreciation for the roles parents play in our lives. By incorporating these idioms into your conversations, you can express complex ideas with creativity and connect more deeply with others.
Practice using these idioms at home, with friends, or even in writing to make them a natural part of your communication. Over time, they’ll add flair and meaning to your speech, making every conversation more engaging. Keep exploring the world of idioms, and let them inspire you to celebrate the incredible journey of parenthood!