English Reference
Idiom idiom

born and bred


Showing characteristics of birth and upbringing, especially in relation to a particular location.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He is a local, born and bred in this small town.

CONTEXTUAL

She knows every street in the city because she was born and bred there.

COMPLEX

Although he traveled the world for decades, he remained, at his core, a man born and bred in the rugged mountains of his youth.


Related idioms7entries
  1. 01

    all one's born days

    One's whole life.

  2. 02

    born in a barn

    In a past tense: criticizing the person to whom the phrase is directed for inappropriately, and usually neglectingly, leaving an exterior door or window open, considered ill-mannered.

  3. 03

    born with a silver spoon in one's mouth

    Born rich, or into a wealthy family.

  4. 04

    breed in the bone

    To establish or ingrain firmly within someone's nature.

  5. 05

    different breed of cat

    Something entirely different; a whole other thing or matter.

  6. 06

    dying breed

    A group of people or things that is becoming less numerous over time.

  7. 07

    were you born in a tent

    An admonishment to someone who has left a door open.

Last updated August 10, 2026