son

every mother's son (of them)

Fig. every one of them. The scout leader said that unless the scouts told him who had stolen the money, he would punish every mother's son of them. When the football team won the championship, they were all crying, every mother's son of them.

See also: every

like father, like son

Prov. Fathers and sons resemble each other, and sons tend to do what their fathers did before them. Jill: George's father smoked all the time, and now George is smoking excessively, too. Jane: Like father, like son, eh? I think my son will grow up tall, just like his father. Like father, like son.

See also: like

son of a bitch 

1. Inf. a very horrible person. (Use with caution. Usually intended as a strong insult. Never used casually.) Bill called Bob a son of a bitch, and Bob punched Bill in the face. This guy's a son of a bitch. He treats everybody rotten.

2. Inf. a useless thing. This car is a son of a bitch. It won't ever start when it's cold. This bumpy old road needs paving. It's a real son of a bitch.

3. Inf. a difficult task. This job is a son of a bitch. I can't do this kind of thing. It's too hard—a real son of a bitch.

See also: bitch

son of a gun and son of a bachelor

a worthless person. (A substitute for son of a bitch.) That tightfisted son of a gun won't buy me a beer. He can be a real son of a bachelor when he's in a bad mood.

See also: gun

son of a sea biscuit

Euph. a person, usually a male. (sometimes a substitute for son of a bitch.) Why, good to see you, you old son of a sea biscuit. You son of a sea biscuit! You make me so mad I could slug you.

See also: biscuit, sea

---

a favourite son  (British & Australian) also a favorite son (American & Australian)

a famous person, especially a politician, who is supported and praised by people in the area they come from Let me introduce to you the favorite son of Russell, Kansas: Bob Dole.

a son of a bitch 

1. (American & Australian very informal) a man who is unpleasant or who has made you angry He's a lazy, drunken son of a bitch and she's better off without him.

2. (American very informal) a way of referring to an object, an activity, or a situation which causes difficulties for you Cleaning up after the robbery was a son of a bitch.

See also: bitch

a son of a gun 

1. (American informal) a man who is unpleasant or who has made you angry He's one mean son of gun - so be careful around him.

2. (American & Australian informal) if you call a man or a boy a son of a gun, it is a way of showing affection for them The little son of a gun has done it again - he's won all his races.

3. (American informal) a way of referring to an object which is causing problems for you or making you angry The computer's crashed and I don't know how to get the son of a gun working again.

See also: gun

Son of a bitch!  (mainly American very informal)

something that you say in order to show that you are very angry or upset Son of a bitch! Have you seen what he wrote in this letter?

Son of a gun!  (American & Australian informal)

something that you say in order to show that you are very surprised and shocked Son of a gun! I can't believe they put her in jail for that!

the prodigal son

a man or boy who left a family or organization in order to do something they did not approve of and who has now returned to them feeling sorry for what he did

Usage notes: This phrase comes from the Bible.

Manchester City football club sees the return of the prodigal son tonight with Black once again in the team after a season away.