blood is thicker than water
/ˈblʌd ɪz ˌθɪkə ðən ˈwɔːtə/NEUTRAL · C1
Meaning
family ties matter more than other relationships
Examples
- 1I lent my brother the money without asking any questions; blood is thicker than water.
- 2Gran always takes the family's side in an argument, because blood is thicker than water.
- 3Even after their big fight, Tom helped his sister move house; after all, blood is thicker than water.
- 4When the partners argued, Maria chose her cousin over her oldest friend, because blood is thicker than water.
- 5They say blood is thicker than water, but Leo hasn't spoken to his family in years.
Grammar
A saying used as a whole clause, often after after all or they say. is stays in the present.
More idioms about relationships
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →at each other's throatsarguing angrily all the timebirds of a featherpeople who are similar in characterbuild bridgesto improve relations between people who disagreean old flamesomeone you had a romantic relationship with in the pastsee eye to eyeto agree with someonehit it offto like each other and become friendly immediately
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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