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I was always the black sheep of the family and always told that I was dumb, and I had a low IQ and did badly in school.
Francis Ford Coppola

Meaning of "black sheep" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF BLACK SHEEP

black sheep play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF BLACK SHEEP

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Black sheep is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES BLACK SHEEP MEAN IN ENGLISH?

black sheep

Black sheep

In the English language, black sheep is an idiom used to describe an odd or disreputable member of a group, especially within a family. The term stems from the genetic effect in sheep whereby a recessive gene occasionally manifests in the birth of a sheep with black rather than white coloring; these sheep stand out in the flock. The term has typically been given negative implications, implying waywardness. It derived from the atypical and unwanted presence of other black individuals in flocks of white sheep. In psychology, the black sheep effect refers to the tendency of group members to judge likeable ingroup members more positively and deviant ingroup member more negatively than comparable outgroup members.

Definition of black sheep in the English dictionary

The definition of black sheep in the dictionary is a person who is regarded as a disgrace or failure by his family or peer group.

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE BLACK SHEEP

black run
black rust
black saltwort
Black Sash
Black Sea
black sea bass
black sea bream
black section
Black September
black shag
black site
black skipjack
black spot
black spruce
black stump
black swan
black taxi
black tern
black tie
black tracker

WORDS THAT END LIKE BLACK SHEEP

asleep
Barbary sheep
bell sheep
cheep
creep
deep
hair sheep
Jacob sheep
Jeep
keep
mountain sheep
peep
sheep
sleep
steep
Stone sheep
Stone´s sheep
sweep
the deep
vegetable sheep

Synonyms and antonyms of black sheep in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

SYNONYMS OF «BLACK SHEEP»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «black sheep» and belong to the same grammatical category.
synonyms of black sheep

Translation of «black sheep» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF BLACK SHEEP

Find out the translation of black sheep to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of black sheep from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «black sheep» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

害群之马
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

ovejas negro
570 millions of speakers

English

black sheep
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

काली भेड़
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

الخراف السوداء
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

черная овца
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

ovelha negra
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

কুলাঙ্গার
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

brebis galeuse
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

kambing hitam
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

schwarze Schafe
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

黒い羊
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

검은 양
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Wedhus ireng
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

cừu đen
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

கருப்பு ஆடு
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

काळे मेंढी
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

Kara koyun
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

pecora nera
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

czarna owca
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

чорна вівця
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

oaia neagră
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

μαύρο πρόβατο
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

swart skape
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

svart får
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

sorte får
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of black sheep

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «BLACK SHEEP»

The term «black sheep» is quite widely used and occupies the 36.783 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Quite widely used
83
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «black sheep» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of black sheep
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «black sheep».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «BLACK SHEEP» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «black sheep» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «black sheep» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about black sheep

EXAMPLES

10 QUOTES WITH «BLACK SHEEP»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word black sheep.
1
Larry Bishop
I dug the idea that I was being perceived as the black sheep of my family, but for me, it was like, I was a rebel, and that to me was most important.
2
Lisa Bonet
I was literally the black sheep of the family, and there were definitely moments of discomfort while my grandmother was working through her racism.
3
Sonny Bono
I feel kind of like the black sheep in Congress, but here I am.
4
Julian Cope
To rally every black sheep is my goal.
5
Francis Ford Coppola
I was always the black sheep of the family and always told that I was dumb, and I had a low IQ and did badly in school.
6
Dustin Hoffman
Somehow I think it was declared very early on that I was the - if not the black sheep of the family, not a very good student.
7
Adam Lamberg
I was kind of the black sheep with the Disney kids. I was uninterested in making friends with most of them. I didn't really fall into 'the Disney mold.' I was more or less the kid hanging out with the crew members and got along with them far better.
8
Ernest Lehman
After all, the wool of a black sheep is just as warm.
9
Alison Moyet
Within three months I had gone from being this black sheep of the town to suddenly becoming a pop star.
10
Alison Moyet
If you think about it, I was at college, and then three months later, I was a massive pop star. It's stress-making, especially when you're a bit of an oddball as I was, the black sheep left to your own devices, and then suddenly everyone's interested in you.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «BLACK SHEEP»

Discover the use of black sheep in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to black sheep and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Black Sheep
And how can she possibly detach from an ailing sister who needs her? This is a heroine who has to be, literally, swept off her feet . . .
Georgette Heyer, 2008
2
Baa Baa Black Sheep
He broke every rule in the book in doing so, but when he fell into the hands of the vengeful Japanese his real ordeal began.
Gregory Boyington, 1977
3
Black Sheep
Black Sheep C.J. Lyons It’s the one mystery Supervisory Special Agent Caitlyn Tierney has never solved: her father’s unexplained suicide after arresting his best friend for murder.
CJ Lyons, 2013
4
Black Sheep: The Life of Pappy Boyington
An account of the controversial life of the U.S. Marine includes coverage of his contributions as a pilot in the South Pacific, experiences in a Japanese prison camp, and achievements at the head of the Black Sheep Squadron.
John F. Wukovits, 2011
5
Swashbucklers and Black Sheep: A Pictorial History of Marine ...
Dramatic paintings, some specially commissioned for this book, capture the squadron in action in the air and their camaraderie on the ground.
Bruce Gamble, 2012
6
Black Sheep
obscenely exciting...top-flight craftsmanship.
Lee Blessing, 2003
7
Black Sheep
This is the story of Isao Dazai, a Japanese-born man who has recently immigrated to Australia with his family.
Ben Peek, 2007
8
Baa Baa Black Sheep
In this expanded version of the traditional nursery rhyme, the black sheep has a surprise for the other farm animals.
Iza Trapani, 2013
9
Black Sheep One: The Life of Gregory Pappy Boyington
Exhaustively researched and richly detailed, here is the complete story of this American original. From the Paperback edition.
Bruce Gamble, 2009
10
Black Sheep
From the grimy streets of the Upper 9th Ward in New Orleans, to the urban stockades of Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn, BlacK SheeP traces Duce's poignant and haunting journey from college-life, to thug-life, to eternal-life.
Achebe Toldson, 2004

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «BLACK SHEEP»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term black sheep is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Black Sheep Squadron
Gregory "Pappy" Boyington led Marine Fighter Squadron 214, VMF-214, which was formed in 1943 and became known as the Black Sheep ... «Mason City Globe Gazette, Jul 15»
2
Sutton Coldfield's Black Sheep Hair makes top 3 in prestigious award
Last month, Sutton Coldfield hair salon, Black Sheep Hair, fought of tough competition from 80 of the best hair salons across the UK to make the ... «Sutton Coldfield Local, Jul 15»
3
Black Sheep: The Hidden Benefits of Being Bad by Richard Stephens
Psychologists do concoct some ingenious experiments, so a popular book drawing together their studies of bad behaviour should be ... «The Sunday Times, Jul 15»
4
Black Sheep: Why being bad isn't all bad
WHETHER it's skiving, sex, speeding or drinking alcohol, everything fun seems to have a warning attached. So why does behaving badly feel ... «New Scientist, Jul 15»
5
Australia a 'black sheep' over climate
Prime Minister Tony Abbott is leaning reluctantly toward Julie Bishop's and Greg Hunt's more progressive positions on climate change. «The Australian Financial Review, Jul 15»
6
Spice Up Your Hair Life at Black Sheep Parlor
Black Sheep Parlor, a funky beauty salon in the Greater Heights area, is quickly becoming the go-to spot for vibrant coloring, edgy cuts, modern ... «Houstonia Magazine, Jul 15»
7
GENEALOGY WITH JANICE: Discover the scoundrels, criminals and …
So get out there and find those Black Sheep. ---. Author of 'Crime and Punishment in Upper Canada: A Researcher's Guide' and 'York's ... «insideTORONTO.com, Jun 15»
8
Black Sheep Burritos and Brew Huntington begins growler fills
HUNTINGTON - A new state law allowing for growler fills will be celebrated Monday as Black Sheep Burrito and Brews will become the first ... «Huntington Herald Dispatch, Jun 15»
9
Find your family's 'black sheep' as more than 2 million crime records …
Finding the black sheep in your family is about to get easier after more than two million crime records have been released on a genealogy ... «Mirror.co.uk, Jun 15»
10
Release of archived criminal records allows you to check for a 'black
Whether villain or victim, anyone can now discover whether their family tree contains any hidden 'black sheep' or victims. The records make it ... «The Independent, Jun 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Black sheep [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/black-sheep>. Apr 2024 ».
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