flesh and blood

Meaning

This expression refers to people who are genetically related to you (your family or relatives). It emphasizes the strong, biological bond between family members, suggesting that you must support or tolerate them despite their flaws. Occasionally, it can also refer to the physical human body and its natural limitations.

Examples

• I can't just turn my back on him; he's my own flesh and blood.

  I can't just turn my back on him; he's my own flesh and blood.

• She forgave her sister because, at the end of the day, they are flesh and blood.

  She forgave her sister because, at the end of the day, they are flesh and blood.

• It is hard to argue with your own flesh and blood over something so trivial.

  It is hard to argue with your own flesh and blood over something so trivial.

• I'm only flesh and blood, so of course I make mistakes and get tired.

  I'm only flesh and blood, so of course I make mistakes and get tired.

• He wanted to leave his business to his own flesh and blood rather than a stranger.

  He wanted to leave his business to his own flesh and blood rather than a stranger.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They are my blood and flesh.

  ✓ They are my flesh and blood.

  This is a fixed binomial idiom. The order of the words cannot be reversed; 'flesh' must always come before 'blood'.

• ✗ I must help him because he is my flesh and blood relation.

  ✓ I must help him because he is my flesh and blood.

  'Flesh and blood' acts as a noun phrase on its own to mean 'relative'. Adding 'relation' or 'family' after it is redundant.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I have to help my brother; after all, he is my own ___ and blood.

  💡 The soft part of the body.

  Show answer

  flesh

• I cannot work twenty hours a day; I am only ___ and blood!

  💡 Starts with 'f'.

  Show answer

  flesh