{"id":3237,"date":"2022-05-09T21:29:01","date_gmt":"2022-05-09T21:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=3237"},"modified":"2022-05-09T21:29:01","modified_gmt":"2022-05-09T21:29:01","slug":"like-father-like-son-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/like-father-like-son-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Like Father like Son \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a way to tell someone that they display their father's behavior and characteristics? You could say, \u201clike father, like son<\/em>.\u201d This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201clike father, like son<\/em>\u201d refers to a child emulating their father's behavior. The phrase can have a positive or negative connotation, depending on the context of the situation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a way of telling someone that you can\u2019t escape your genetics and that we all follow in our father's footsteps. It\u2019s a natural instinct, and we can\u2019t help this behavior.<\/p>\n

You could use the phrase to describe your child\u2019s behavior or another parent's kids' actions and words. It also acts as a reference to let the child know that they need to start thinking independently.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cLook at Tom talking to that guy like he knows everything. Like father, like son. They both think they are geniuses.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard that Mike got arrested on drugs charges last night. His dad was an addict too, and I think he died in jail. Oh well, Like father, like son, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam ended up being a finance titan, and he owns a firm downtown. His father was a big Wall Street guy, so, like father, like son, I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at how Dennis treats women; he\u2019s despicable. I heard his father was a womanizer too, so, like father, like son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI swear, Tim is the mirror image of his dad; he emulates everything he does. Like father, like son, let\u2019s hope he grows up to be the man his father is and not a disappointment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe he did that to me. Like father, like son, he dad\u2019s a dirtbag too.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Origin<\/h2>\n

The origin of the expression \u201clike father, like son\u201d comes from a biblical proverb. The saying appears in the book of Ezekiel 16:44 as the following.<\/p>\n

\u201cBehold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is the daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two Latin expressions have a similar meaning to the phrase and offer a possible origin for the expression. \u201cQualis pater, talis filius\u201d translates to \u201cas the father, so the son.\u201d \u201cPatris est Filius\u201d translates to \u201che is his father\u2019s son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Language experts think that the saying reached mainstream use in the English language around the 1300s. However, some language experts think the expression only appeared much later.<\/p>\n

The first written record of the saying comes from the collection of favorite proverbs \u201cBibliotheca Scholastica Instructissima,\u201d compiled by Thomas Draxe, published in 1616.<\/p>\n