the apple does not fall far from the tree
A child grows up to be similar to its parents, both in behavior and in physical characteristics.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He is just like his father; the apple does not fall far from the tree.”
“Seeing her daughter show the same talent for music as her mother, everyone agreed that the apple does not fall far from the tree.”
“Observing the young man’s ruthless ambition, the townspeople whispered that the apple does not fall far from the tree, given his father’s own history of greed.”
- 01
a bridge too far
A step or action that is too ambitious; an act of overreaching.
- 02
apple of someone's eye
The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.
- 03
apple polisher
A sycophant; a toady.
- 04
apples and oranges
A comparison of items that, however categorically similar, is inapt; an incompatible analogy, or the items so compared; a disanalogy.
- 05
apples to apples
A comparison of items that are similar.
- 06
apples to apples, oranges to oranges
A comparison of items that are similar, while also acknowledging or distinguishing a separation of their sets or categories.
- 07
as far as one knows
To the best of one's knowledge, as far as someone knows or possible information to be gathered about the topic, subject, aspect, or situation.
- 08
bad apple
A person who is not wholesome, honest, or trustworthy, especially one who has an adverse influence on others.
Last updated August 10, 2026