blæk ʃiːp
Colors
neutral
beginner
- Literally:
- a sheep with black wool
What does "black sheep" mean?
- a member of a group who is considered different or disreputable
- someone who brings shame or embarrassment to their family
Examples
- He was always considered the black sheep of the family because he dropped out of college.
- Every family has a black sheep — ours is Uncle Jerry.
- She felt like the black sheep at work because she disagreed with the company culture.
Origin
Black wool was less valuable because it couldn't be dyed. A black sheep in a flock was considered undesirable. Used figuratively since the 18th century.
How to use it
Commonly used to describe family members but can apply to any group. Often carries a sympathetic tone in modern usage.
Similar expressions
outcast
misfit
odd one out
pariah
Opposites
golden child
pride of the family
Related idioms
- black and white
clearly defined with no ambiguity
- silver lining
a positive aspect of an otherwise bad situation
- grey area
a situation or topic that is unclear or not well-defined
- give the green light
to give permission or approval to proceed
- golden opportunity
an excellent or ideal chance that may not come again
- white lie
a harmless or small lie told to avoid hurting someone's feelings
Use it in a practice answer
Try "black sheep" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.