Flesh and blood
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
Living human beings, ordinary human nature, or one's close biological family. Context determines whether the phrase means humanity, human weakness, or family relationship. Regional use: Old and Middle English; now widespread.
Origin
Flesh and blood is an Old English pairing as well as a biblical one. Old English had the corresponding words flaesc and blod, and medieval religious writing used the pair for mortal human nature. In the New Testament it contrasts embodied humanity with spiritual powers and also denotes human descent. From that physical sense came the modern uses for real people rather than abstractions, human limitations, and blood relatives. No single biblical verse accounts for every present sense.
Research Sources
Variants
- One's own flesh and blood
Usage Examples
- The policy affects flesh and blood, not figures on a chart.
- He could not turn away his own flesh and blood.
- I am only flesh and blood, so I sometimes lose patience.