in a/the family way

in a/the family way

euphemism Pregnant. Did you hear the good news? Kristin is in the family way!

See also: family, way

*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: 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.

See also: family, way

in the family way

pregnant. informal

See also: family, way

in the ˈfamily way

(old-fashioned, informal) pregnant

See also: family, way

in a family way

and in the family way

mod. pregnant. I hear that Britney is in a family way.

See also: family, way

in the family way

verb

See in a family way

See also: family, way

in the family way

Pregnant.

See also: family, way