ENGLISH
REFERENCE

white sheep

idiom
Meaning

a conformist; an ordinary or conventional person


Examples
SIMPLE

He is the white sheep of his artistic family.

CONTEXTUAL

While his siblings traveled the world, he stayed home and became a white sheep by taking a steady office job.

COMPLEX

In a family of eccentric rebels, he stood out as the white sheep, preferring the comfort of predictable routines and conventional success.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    black sheep

    A nonconformist; an unusual or unconventional person, who may be rejected or disdained by others for this reason.

  2. 02

    count sheep

    To attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring, traditionally by counting imaginary sheep.

  3. 03

    wash a blackamoor white

    To labour in vain, especially so as to present something as better than it really is; to whitewash.

  4. 04

    white bread

    Bread made from white flour.

  5. 05

    white coat hypertension

    Elevated blood pressure measured by a medical practitioner and deemed to result from the patient's emotional response to the medical environment.

  6. 06

    white hat

    A good person; a hero.

  7. 07

    white lie

    A deliberately untrue statement which is intended to produce a favorable result; especially, one which is judged to be better than an overhonest alternative, as for example to remain polite in a superficial social exchange, or to choose one's battles.

  8. 08

    white magic

    Magic derived from good or benign forces, as distinct from evil or malevolent forces; or magic performed with the intention of doing good or giving aid.

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