Word
baby of the family
Definition
idiom. the youngest child in a family, even if they are now an adult. People often use this to explain why someone is treated with extra care or seen as the little one.
idiom. a figurative label for the youngest sibling within a nuclear family unit. It often carries connotations of being pampered, protected, or less mature than older siblings, regardless of the individual's actual age.
Examples
“As the baby of the family, he always gets the most attention.”
“Even though she is thirty years old, her brothers still treat her like the baby of the family.”
“The psychological dynamics shifted significantly once the baby of the family moved out, leaving the parents with an empty nest for the first time.”
Examples
simple
“As the baby of the family, he always gets the most attention.”
contextual
“Even though she is thirty years old, her brothers still treat her like the baby of the family.”
complex
“The psychological dynamics shifted significantly once the baby of the family moved out, leaving the parents with an empty nest for the first time.”
Usage
usually follows the verb 'to be' and is used as a noun phrase.
Teaching tip
point out that 'baby' here is a role, not a literal age; it is a useful phrase for discussing family birth order and personality traits.
Pitfall
He is the family baby.
He is the baby of the family.
the fixed idiomatic structure requires the 'of the family' prepositional phrase rather than a noun-noun compound.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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