We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Linguistics

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Does It Mean If Something Is "in Your Blood"?

By Alicia Sparks
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 18,606
References
Share

Generally, if someone tells you something is “in your blood,” that person means you possess, or are likely to possess, a particular trait because another person in your family possesses it. Usually, the family member is older, like a parent or grandparent. This trait can be anything from athletic ability to business savvy. Since the trait can be positive or negative, saying it is “in your blood” can act as a compliment or insult. Often, this saying carries the unspoken implication that whatever the trait is, it is unchangeable or the likelihood that you can or will change it is slim.

Sometimes, people use the saying “in your blood” in a positive, complimentary way. For example, someone might say the daughter of a successful business owner will eventually succeed with her own business because it’s in her blood. Even if this person has shown no inclination toward or skill for business ownership in the past, some people will assume she will be successful at running a business because her father is successful at running a business.

Other times, people can use the idiom “in your blood” to point to the presence of a negative trait shared by two people. For example, people might say the son of a convicted felon will likely go to jail himself because it’s in his blood. People expect that the son will follow in the father’s footsteps, whether the reasons are related to nature or nurture.

Often, people associate the idiom “in your blood” with permanence, regardless of the positive or negative nature of the trait. The daughter of the business owner might not impress investors during the first year of her own start-up company, but the likelihood that she will ultimately succeed seems certain because it’s in her blood. Likewise, the son of the convicted felon might only have one speeding ticket on record, but people might expect him to go to jail soon because it’s in his blood.

Similar to physical traits, personality and character traits often are shared by family members. This makes it easy to understand why “in your blood” rings true for some people. Still, like other idiomatic expressions, there are situations when this one applies and situations when it doesn’t apply. When using this saying, a speaker can only point out trait similarities, or the possibilities of similarities, with any real confidence. It’s not feasible to say something is in another’s blood and expect the statement to be treated as fact.

Share
Language & Humanities is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
By anon293215 — On Sep 24, 2012

Generally, if someone tells you something is “in your blood,” that person means you possess, or are likely to possess, a particular trait because another person in your family possesses it. Usually, the family member is older, like a parent or grandparent. This trait can be anything from athletic ability to business savvy. Since the trait can be positive or negative, saying it is “in your blood” can act as a compliment or insult. Often, this saying carries the unspoken implication that whatever the trait is, it is unchangeable or the likelihood that you can or will change it is slim.

Sometimes, people use the saying “in your blood” in a positive, complimentary way. For example, someone might say the daughter of a successful business owner will eventually succeed with her own business because it’s in her blood. Even if this person has shown no inclination toward or skill for business ownership in the past, some people will assume she will be successful at running a business because her father is successful at running a business.

Other times, people can use the idiom “in your blood” to point to the presence of a negative trait shared by two people. For example, people might say the son of a convicted felon will likely go to jail himself because it’s in his blood. People expect that the son will follow in the father’s footsteps, whether the reasons are related to nature or nurture.

Often, people associate the idiom “in your blood” with permanence, regardless of the positive or negative nature of the trait. The daughter of the business owner might not impress investors during the first year of her own start-up company, but the likelihood that she will ultimately succeed seems certain because it’s in her blood. Likewise, the son of the convicted felon might only have one speeding ticket on record, but people might expect him to go to jail soon because it’s in his blood.

Similar to physical traits, personality and character traits often are shared by family members. This makes it easy to understand why “in your blood” rings true for some people. Still, like other idiomatic expressions, there are situations when this one applies and situations when it doesn’t apply.

When using this saying, a speaker can only point out trait similarities, or the possibilities of similarities, with any real confidence. It’s not feasible to say something is in another’s blood and expect the statement to be treated as fact.

Share
https://www.languagehumanities.org/what-does-it-mean-if-something-is-in-your-blood.htm
Copy this link
Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.