family

*in a family way and *in the family way

Fig. pregnant. (*Typically: be ~; get someone ~.) I've heard that Mrs. Smith is in a family way. Our dog is in the family way.

See also: way

(all) in the family

restricted to one's own family, as with private or embarrassing information. Don't tell anyone else. Please keep it all in the family. He only told his brother because he wanted it to remain in the family.

black sheep of the family

Fig. the worst member of the family. Mary is the black sheep of the family. She's always in trouble with the police. He keeps making a nuisance of himself. What do you expect from the black sheep of the family?

See also: black, sheep

family that prays together stays together

Prov. Families who practice religion together will not break apart through divorce or estrangement. Mother believed that the family that prays together stays together and insisted that we all say prayers every night.

See also: pray, stay, together

How's the family? and How's your family?

an expression used on greeting to ask about the state of the person's immediate family. Bob: Hello, Fred. How are you? Fred: Fine, thanks. Bob: How's the family? Fred: Great! How's yours? Bob: Couldn't bebetter. "How's the family?" asked Bill, greeting his boss.

like one of the family

as if someone (or a pet) were a member of one's family. We treat our dog like one of the family. We are very happy to have you stay with us, Bill. I hope you don't mind if we treat you like one of the family.

See also: like, one

run in the family

[for a characteristic] to appear in many (or all) members of a family. My grandparents lived well into their nineties, and it runs in the family. My brothers and I have red hair. It runs in the family.

See also: run

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a family man

a man who likes to spend a lot of time with his wife and children He was known as a devoted family man who was closely involved in community life.

See also: man

in the family way  (old-fashioned)

pregnant Have you heard that Jean's in the family way?

See run in the family

See also: way

run in the family

if a particular quality or ability runs in the family, a lot of people in that family have it Athletic ability runs in the family: his father played basketball in college and his mother was a high school athlete.

See also: run

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in the family way also in a family way

pregnant Have you heard that Jean's in the family way?

Usage notes: used by people who think it is not polite to say pregnant, or for humorous effect, and sometimes used in the form put someone in the family way (to make someone pregnant): They plan to get married now that he's put her in the family way.

See also: way

run in the family also run in somebody's family

to be a common quality among members of a particular family His father and uncle were basketball stars in college, so athletic ability runs in the family.

See also: run