Unit 17 Family

Come from to originate from a place

Also: be from

GRAMMAR NOTE/USAGE NOTES: These idioms refer to one’s present or past homeland. When referring to one’s present homeland, only the simple present tense is used.

▪ Most of the students in my class come from Asia.

▪ Patrick’s ancestors all came from Scotland 200 years ago.

▪ I’m from Uruguay. Where are you from?

Grow up 1) to develop from a child into an adult 2) to mature

Related form: grown-up (noun form meaning “adult”)

USAGE NOTE: Grow up has two meanings. The first refers to natural physical development from child to adult. The second refers to reasonable, mature behavior.

▪ Mike was born in New York, but grew up in California.

▪ My fourteen-year-old son still acts foolishly. I hope he grows up soon.

▪ Small children need the constant supervision of grown-ups.

Bring up to raise, to rear, to educate

GRAMMAR NOTE/USAGE NOTES: This idiom is separable. Note how it differs from grow up above: Children grow up (no object); parents bring up children (object).

▪ Martina is a well-adjusted child. Ger parents have brought her up carefully.

▪ It’s sometimes difficult to bring up children in today’s society.

Fresh and blood one’s relatives and immediate family

USAGE NOTE: This idiom often is preceded by one’s own….

▪ All of our fresh and blood came to the big family reunion.

▪ Sue doesn’t want to tell the police about her brother’s crime because he’s her own fresh and blood.

Take after to resemble, to look like (for physical appearance)

Also: be a chip off the old block

USAGE NOTE: Take after can refer to similarities in personality or physical appearance. Be a chip off the block is used when two people in a family share the same characteristics in personality.

▪ Did you notice how Kate takes after her father in personality, but ger mother in looks?

▪ Larry is about as lazy as his father. He’s just a chip off the old block.

Settle down to begin a regular, stable life

Also: put down roots

USAGE NOTE: These idioms are used when someone who often moves or travels a lot finally decides to live a more normal life in one place. Settle down is also used for perple who have lived active social lives but are ready to limit their activities.

▪ Teresa’s family moved from state to state until finally they settled down in Arizona.

▪ After years of travelling and partying, Jason decided to settle down and have a family.

▪ My ancestors put down roots in America over a century ago.

Hand down to give from one generation to the next

Also: pass down

GRAMMAR NOTE: The pronoun me in hand-me-down cannot change form in any way.

▪ I still have the old stamp collection that my grandfather handed down to me.

▪ In every society, important traditions are passed down from generation to generation.

▪ Nancy has kept every hand-me-down that her relatives have ever given ger.

Give birth (to) to bear a child

Also: have a child, have a (baby) boy/girl

▪ Mrs. Larsen’s family was surprised when she gave birth to twins.

▪ Have you and your husband decided whether you’re ready to have a child yet?

▪ My sister just had a bay boy. I’m an uncle!