What Does "Black Sheep" Mean?
"Black sheep" is an English idiom. It means "a person who is considered odd or different in a group, often a family, or someone who brings dishonor."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "black sheep" used in a sentence:- He's always been the black sheep of the family, moving from one job to another.
- While everyone else went into medicine or law, the black sheep of the family became a musician.
- Being the black sheep isn't always a bad thing; sometimes it just means you're unique.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Black Sheep" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "black sheep" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
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