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White Sheep

What Does "White Sheep" Mean?

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"White sheep" is an English idiom. It means "a person in a family or group who is considered good or respectable in contrast to the others."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "white sheep" used in a sentence:
  • In a family of criminals, she was the white sheep who became a successful lawyer.
  • Amongst a group of troublemakers, he was known as the white sheep for his integrity.
  • Being the white sheep in the gang, she always felt like an outsider.
meaning for white sheep

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 "White 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.

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