black sheep
/blæk ʃiːp/
Meaning
A 'black sheep' is a member of a family or group who is regarded as a failure, a troublemaker, or simply very different from the rest. The term usually has a slightly negative or rebellious connotation, but it can also be used in a lighthearted, self-deprecating way to describe being the odd one out.
Examples
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My brother is a successful lawyer, while I'm the black sheep who dropped out of school to join a band.
My brother is a successful lawyer, while I'm the black sheep who dropped out of school to join a band.
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She has always been the black sheep of the family because of her unconventional lifestyle.
She has always been the black sheep of the family because of her unconventional lifestyle.
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He felt like the black sheep at Thanksgiving because his political views were so different.
He felt like the black sheep at Thanksgiving because his political views were so different.
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Every family has a black sheep, and in ours, it's definitely Uncle Bob.
Every family has a black sheep, and in ours, it's definitely Uncle Bob.
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Being the black sheep doesn't bother her; she actually enjoys standing out from her conservative relatives.
Being the black sheep doesn't bother her; she actually enjoys standing out from her conservative relatives.
Common Mistakes
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✗ He is the dark sheep of our family.
✓ He is the black sheep of our family.
The idiom is fixed with the color 'black'. You cannot substitute other synonyms like 'dark' or 'grey'.
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✗ She is a black sheep family member.
✓ She is the black sheep of the family.
'Black sheep' is a noun phrase and is typically used in the pattern 'the black sheep of the [family/group]'. Avoid using it as a pre-modifying adjective.
Related Expressions
Practice
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As an artist in a family of doctors, I’ve always been the ___ sheep.
💡 A dark color.
Show answer
black
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He is the black ___ of the family because of his constant run-ins with the law.
💡 A woolly farm animal.
Show answer
sheep