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Black sheep

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A member of a family or group who is regarded as disreputable, odd, or disgraceful; in verse, this idiom frequently signifies alienation, rebellion, or the price of nonconformity within a rigid social order.

Detailed Definition
Black sheep highlights familial or social outsider status, fueling themes of identity struggles, rebellion, and nonconformity in poetry that celebrates or mourns deviation from norms. This idiomatic expression, evoking the rare dark-fleeced animal, symbolizes difference that brings both shame and distinction, allowing deep dives into alienation, self-acceptance, and family dynamics. Poets leverage it for confessional intensity or narrative arcs of exile and return, contrasting collective expectations with individual authenticity. Its emotional weight enhances explorations of heritage, mental health, or artistic temperament, providing resonant metaphors for the beauty and pain of standing apart.
Example
Example in poetry:
Family saga: "The black sheep wandered far, carving his own wild path through scorn."; Identity verse: "Every clan needs its black sheep to challenge stagnant traditions."; For students: "Explores outsider perspectives in coming-of-age poems."; "Proud to be the black sheep rewriting family legacy."
Additional Notes
Outsider family role, fuels identity and rebellion themes. Usage tip: Deepen alienation in coming-of-age works.
Also Known As
Outcast Odd one out White crow Prodigal member Black sheep of the family
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