Question

Black Sheep of the Family the most unsuccessful, least admirable member of a family or similar group; a disgraced person

Accepted Answer

Geraldine's the black sheep of the family. She's always causing trouble. This expression has been used at least since the early 1800s to describe a person who is a disgrace to a community or family. Shepherds did not like rare black sheep since their fleece could not be dyed any color and there weren't enough of them to sell black wool. Some people also thought that the black sheep frightened the rest of the flock and came from the devil. The saying changed over time to mean disfavored people in a family or group.

Idiom	Black Sheep of the Family
Example	Geraldine's the black sheep of the family. She's always causing trouble.
Meaning	the most unsuccessful, least admirable member of a family or similar group; a disgraced person
Origin	This expression has been used at least since the early 1800s to describe a person who is a disgrace to a community or family. Shepherds did not like rare black sheep since their fleece could not be dyed any color and there weren't enough of them to sell black wool. Some people also thought that the black sheep frightened the rest of the flock and came from the devil. The saying changed over time to mean disfavored people in a family or group.

Black Sheep Family Person Geraldine's She's Causing Trouble