in a/the family way
in a/the family way
euphemism Pregnant. Did you hear the good news? Kristin is in the family way!
*in a family way
and *in the family wayFig. pregnant. (*Typically: be ~; get someone ~.) I've heard that Mrs. Smith is in a family way. Our dog is in the family way.
in the family way
Pregnant, as in Mary's in the family way again. This euphemistic expression dates from the late 1700s and may be dying out.
in the family way
pregnant. informalin the ˈfamily way
(old-fashioned, informal) pregnantin a family way
and in the family way mod. pregnant. I hear that Britney is in a family way.
in the family way
verbSee in a family way
in the family way
Pregnant.