Phrase guide

kill the fatted calf

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To begin a festive celebration and rejoice for someone's long-awaited return.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the parable of the prodigal son in the New Testament.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: het vetgemeste kalf slachten — begin a festive celebration
  • Finnish: teurastaa syöttövasikka — begin a festive celebration
  • French: tuer le veau gras — begin a festive celebration
  • Italian: uccidere il vitello grasso — begin a festive celebration
  • Norwegian Bokmål: slakte gjøkalven — begin a festive celebration
  • Polish: obchodzić czyjś powrót — begin a festive celebration
  • Swedish: slakta gödkalven — begin a festive celebration