ESL Podcast 686 - Roles Within a Family

to fit right in - to become part of a group, usually because one has many things in common with the other members; to be welcomed in a warm, friendly way into a group of people

If you enjoy playing chess, you'll fit right in with the school's Chess Club.

matriarch - the female leader of a family or of a larger group of people; the older woman who controls a family or group

Everyone gathers in the matriarch's house for important holidays.

black sheep - someone who is a failure and an embarrassment to relatives

Everyone else in the family is a doctor, lawyer, scientist, or engineer, but poor Ricky has always been the black sheep, never having success in any of his work.

to let on - to let someone know something; to give some indication of what one is thinking or feeling

Sakuhiro has been undergoing chemotherapy for weeks, but he never lets on that he's in pain.

prodigal son - a son who spends a lot of money and does things the family does not approve of, but later returns to the family and is welcomed with love

Their family refers to the oldest child as the prodigal son, because he traveled internationally for several years and spent all of his inheritance, but then came back older and wiser.

rebellious - referring to someone who does not want to accept authority, follow the rules, or do what one is supposed to do or what one is told to do

In-Young was very rebellious as a teenager and never did anything his parents wanted him to do.

eccentric - with very strange, unusual ideas and behaviors, very different from those of other people

Professor Maser is a little eccentric, always wearing a top hat and a bowtie, and refusing to shake hands with anyone.

to steer clear of - to stay away from someone or something; to not interact with someone or something

The doctor said that we should be able to avoid stomach problems by steering clear of spicy food.

baby - the youngest child; the youngest sibling

Now that their baby is about to graduate from high school, they're trying to prepare to live alone, without their children.

to come in - to be included in something; to be considered as a part of something

You've talked a lot about how the decision will affect you, but where do your husband's feelings come in?

middle child - the second of three children in a family; a person who has one older sibling and one younger sibling

As a middle child, Jean-Marie never felt he received enough attention from his parents.

scapegoat - a person who is blamed for problems or bad things that happen, especially when he or she did not really cause it

Wayne was fired after profits fell, but it wasn't really his fault. The company used him as a scapegoat.

patriarch - the male leader of a family or of a larger group of people; the older man who controls a family or group

When Grandpa Schmidt passes away, who will become the new family patriarch?

impressed - affected or influenced in a particular way by what one has seen, heard, or experienced, usually in a positive way

Wow! I'm really impressed by how quickly you've learned the language!

lion's den - a scary, intimidating place where there is some danger, but one must go there anyway

Participating in a panel interview often feels like entering the lion's den.

famous last words - a phrase used to express one's disbelief or disagreement with what another person has just said

• This old bridge is safe. Nothing bad can happen if we use it.

• Famous last words!