English.me

“Like father, like son”: meaning, origin and examples

Like father, like son

What it means

The phrase means that a son often resembles or behaves like his father, both in terms of physical appearance and character traits.

Tone Neutral

Where it comes from

The origin of the phrase Like father, like son can be traced back to ancient cultures, where it was often observed that children inherit traits from their parents. The general idea has been expressed in various forms across different languages and cultures throughout history.

Examples

  • When I heard Tom had joined his father’s law firm, I couldn’t help but think, like father, like son.
  • Jake is just as stubborn as his dad used to be—like father, like son.

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