born (redirected from don't know is born)

born and raised and born and bred

born and nurtured through childhood, usually in a specific place. She was born and raised in a small town in western Montana. Freddy was born and bred on a farm and had no love for city life.

See also: and, raised

born on the wrong side of the blanket

Rur. [of a child] illegitimate. All his life, Edward felt that people looked down on him because he was born on the wrong side of the blanket. Just between you and me, I suspect Mrs. Potter's oldest child was born on the wrong side of the blanket.

See also: blanket, side, wrong

born out of wedlock

born to an unmarried mother. The child was born out of wedlock. In the city many children are born out of wedlock.

See also: out

born with a silver spoon in one's mouth

Fig. born into wealth and privilege. James doesn't know anything about working for a living; he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Most of the students at the exclusive private college were born with silver spoons in their mouths.

See also: mouth, silver, spoon

If you're born to be hanged, then you'll never be drowned.

Prov. If you escape one disaster, it must be because you are destined for a different kind of disaster. (Sometimes used to warn someone who has escaped drowning against gloating over good luck.) When their ship was trapped in a terrible storm, Ellen told her husband that she feared they would die. "Don't worry," he replied with a yawn, "if you're born to be hanged, then you'll never be drowned."

See also: drown, if, never

in all my born days

Rur. in my entire life. I've never seen such fireworks in all my born days. That's the best party I was ever at in all my born days.

See also: days

It is better to be born lucky than rich.

Prov. If you are born rich, you may lose your money, but if you are born lucky, you will always get what you need or want just by chance. Maybe your family doesn't have a lot of money, but you are lucky, you know. And it's better to be born lucky than rich.

See also: better, lucky, rich

not born yesterday

Fig. experienced; knowledgeable in the ways of the world. I know what's going on. I wasn't born yesterday. Sally knows the score. She wasn't born yesterday.

See also: yesterday

Were you born in a barn?

Rur. an expression chiding someone who has left a door open or who is ill-mannered or messy. Andy: Close the door! Were you born in a barn? Bob: Sorry. Fred: Can't you clean this place up a little? Were you born in a barn? Bob: I call it the messy look.

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(as) to the manner born  (slightly formal)

if you behave to the manner born, you behave confidently, as if a particular situation is usual and familiar for you Although he never lost his lower-class accent, he lived the life of a rich and successful businessman as to the manner born.

See also: manner

be born with a silver spoon in your mouth

to be the son or daughter of a very rich family His complete lack of concern about money is natural of someone who was born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

See also: mouth, silver, spoon

born and bred

if you were born and bred in a place, you were born and grew up in that place and have the typical character of someone who lives there (often + in ) She was born and bred in Jamaica but now lives in France. He's a Londoner born and bred.

See also: and, bred

I/he/she wasn't born yesterday!

something that you say in order to tell someone that a person is not stupid and cannot be easily deceived You'd better think of a better excuse about the dent in my car. I wasn't born yesterday, you know! You can't expect your mother to believe that - she wasn't born yesterday!

See There's one born every minute

natural-born  (informal)

having the qualities and abilities which you need in order to be good at doing a particular thing (always before noun) Carl was a natural-born salesman, and quickly expanded the company's world-wide sales.

There's one born every minute.  (humorous)

something that you say about someone who you think has been very stupid 'He left a window open and then wondered why he'd been burgled!' 'There's one born every minute, isn't there?'

See That's's one for the books, take each day as it comes, be of like mind, be one sandwich short of a picnic, six of one and half a dozen of the other

See also: every, minute, one

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born to do something

to have the natural ability to do something This sweet-voiced artist was born to sing.

Related vocabulary: in your blood

born to be something

to strongly show a quality in your behavior Ellen was born to be organized.

born with a silver spoon in your mouth

to have opportunities that you did not earn but that you have from the influence of your family Bill was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth – he came from a poor family and earned his success through hard work.

Etymology: from the idea that silver spoons were given at birth to wealthy children

See also: mouth, silver, spoon