brother (redirected from brethren)

(soul) brother

a black person's male, black friend. Another brother took a fall last night. Terry's a soul brother, and I'll do anything for him.

everybody and his brother and everybody and his uncle

Fig. everybody; lots of people. The state fair was packed. Everybody and his brother was there. Everybody and his uncle was asking me where you was today.

See also: and, everybody, his

I am not my brother's keeper. and Am I my brother's keeper?

Prov. You are not responsible for another person's doings or whereabouts. (Biblical.) Fred: Where's Robert? Jane: Am I my brother's keeper? Jill: How could you let Jane run off like that? Alan: I'm not my brother's keeper.

See also: keeper

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not be your brother's keeper  also not be somebody's keeper

to not be responsible for what someone does or for what happens to them It's all too easy for us not to intervene in another country's problems, telling ourselves that we're not our brother's keeper. You shouldn't blame yourself for what's happened to Simon. You're not his keeper, you know.

See also: keeper

a blood brother

a man who has promised to treat another man as his brother, often in a ceremony in which they cut themselves and mix their blood together We were blood brothers - I was ready to die for him.

See also: blood

Big Brother

a government or a large organization which tries to control every part of people's lives and to know everything about them

Usage notes: In the book 1984 by George Orwell, Big Brother is the very powerful ruler.

Many people are concerned about Big Brother having computer files on them to which they do not have access.

See also: big

everyone and his brother  (American)

a very large number of people We couldn't get in to see the movie - everyone and his brother had decided to go.

See be on everyone's lips

See also: and, everyone, his