English with Jo

Someone who is the black sheep doesn't fit into a group or family because their behaviour or character is bad, odd or disgraces the group.

 

Example: My brother was the black sheep in the family - he ran away at 16 to become an actor.

  

Did you know...? The idiom originated from the occasional black sheep which is born into a herd of white sheep and the fact that black sheep are less desirable than white ones because it is more difficult to dye their wool different colours.