son

a favourite son (British & Australian, 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.

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

a son of a bitch

1. 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. 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

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?

See also: bitch

a son of a gun

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

2. 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. 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 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!

See also: gun