Black sheep of the family

Origin

The phrase "black sheep" originates from the pastoral farming practices of 18th-century Britain, a time when white wool was significantly more valuable than black wool. Black sheep were an unwelcome sight in a flock because their fleece could not be dyed and fetched a lower price, making them a financial liability to the farmer. This literal perception of the black sheep as an undesirable anomaly quickly translated into a social metaphor. By the 19th century, it was firmly established in the English lexicon to describe a family member or group member who deviated from the norm, bringing perceived shame or discredit, much like the black sheep stood out, unwanted, among its white counterparts.