English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Meaning
The idiom "the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree" is used to describe a family resemblance between people or things. It means that there are similarities, often physical or behavioral, between siblings, parents and children, or other closely related individuals. This idiom suggests that certain traits or characteristics are inherited and passed down through genes.
Usage
- "Look at the two brothers! They really do resemble each other - it's like they're cut from the same tree."
- "My daughter has inherited my love for cooking and baking, just like her mother did before her."
- "I can see why they were such good friends - they have a lot in common and share many values."
- "The way she carries herself is exactly like her grandmother used to do when she was younger."
- "Some people say that you can tell where a person comes from by looking at their teeth. I think there's some truth to that - after all, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree."
Roots and History
The origin of this idiom is uncertain, but it dates back to at least the 17th century in English. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest known use of the phrase was in a collection of proverbs in 1670, where it was written as "the apple doth not fall far from the tree." It is thought that this idiom may have evolved from the biblical phrase "as a tree shall be known by its fruit" (Matthew 7:16). Over time, the idiom has been used to describe not only physical resemblance but also similarities in behavior or character.
Synonyms in English
- Blood is thicker than water.
- Like father, like son/daughter.
- Family resemblance.
- We are cut from the same cloth.
- Our roots run deep.
Synonyms in other languages
- Spanish: "El árbol no cae lejos de la raíz" (The tree doesn't fall far from the root).
- French: "La fille ressemble au père" (The daughter resembles the father).
- Italian: "Il figlio è il doppio del padre" (The son is the double of the father).
- German: "Man sieht sich im Blutwurzel" (One sees oneself in the blood root).
- Russian: "Родственники похожие, как из одного куска дерева" (Relatives are similar, like from one piece of wood).