black sheep


noun

a sheep with black fleece.
a person who causes shame or embarrassment because of deviation from the accepted standards of his or her group.

Origin of black sheep

First recorded in 1785–95

Example sentences from the Web for black sheep

  • Clinton jokes that Barbara Bush refers to him as her “black-sheep son.”

    Bush’s Hidden Legacy |Eleanor Clift |May 31, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
  • But no matter—— There'd be intellectual conversation for the benefit of black-sheep new chums.

    Children of the Bush |Henry Lawson
  • Well, perhaps he was ashamed of me, for I was the black-sheep of the flock.

    A Modern Aladdin |Howard Pyle

British Dictionary definitions for black sheep

black sheep

noun

a person who is regarded as a disgrace or failure by his family or peer group

Cultural definitions for black sheep

black sheep

A person who is considered a disgrace to a particular group, usually a family: “Uncle Jack, who was imprisoned for forgery, is the black sheep of the family.”

Idioms and Phrases with black sheep

black sheep

The least reputable member of a group; a disgrace. For example, Uncle Fritz was the black sheep of the family; we always thought he emigrated to Argentina to avoid jail. This metaphor is based on the idea that black sheep were less valuable than white ones because it was more difficult to dye their wool different colors. Also, in the 16th century, their color was considered the devil's mark. By the 18th century the term was widely used as it is today, for the odd member of a group.