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

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*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

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

in the family way

pregnant. informal

See also: family, way

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

in the ˈfamily way

(old-fashioned, informal) pregnant

See also: family, way

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

in the family way

Pregnant.

See also: family, way

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.