Phrase guide

run in the family

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

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To be a characteristic feature that is observed in several generations of a family.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: venir de família — to be observed in several generations
  • Chinese Mandarin: 世代相传 — to be observed in several generations
  • Chinese Mandarin: 家风 (jiāfēng) — to be observed in several generations
  • Danish: ligge til familjen — to be observed in several generations
  • Finnish: kulkea suvussa — to be observed in several generations
  • Finnish: olla suvussa — to be observed in several generations
  • Finnish: olla sukuvika — to be observed in several generations
  • Finnish: olla sukurasite — to be observed in several generations
  • French: être de famille — to be observed in several generations
  • German: in der Familie liegen — to be observed in several generations
  • Italian: essere di famiglia — to be observed in several generations
  • Korean: 집안 유전이다 (jiban yujeonida) — to be observed in several generations
  • Polish: wyssać z mlekiem matki — to be observed in several generations
  • Portuguese: ser de família — to be observed in several generations
  • Spanish: ser cosa de familia — to be observed in several generations
  • Welsh: bod yng ngwaed y teulu — to be observed in several generations