Fathers hold a special place in language as well as in life. Across cultures, the role of a father is associated with guidance, protection, wisdom, and strength.
It is no surprise that English has a wide range of idioms and expressions that draw inspiration from fatherhood.
Some highlight the bond between parent and child, others emphasize authority or tradition, and a few even use “father” to describe the origins of big ideas or inventions.
Idioms for father
1. Like Father, Like Son
Meaning: Children often resemble or act like their fathers.
He’s great at fixing cars—like father, like son.
Their tempers are the same, definitely like father, like son.
2. Father Figure
Meaning: A man who guides, protects, or mentors like a father.
His teacher was more than a mentor; he was a father figure.
Many young players saw the coach as a father figure.
3. Founding Father
Meaning: Someone who creates or establishes something important.
Newton is a founding father of modern science.
He is one of the founding fathers of this institution.
4. Spitting Image of His Father
Meaning: A child who looks almost identical to their father.
He’s the spitting image of his father with that smile.
She’s the spitting image of her father when he was young.
5. Follow in His Father’s Footsteps
Meaning: To choose the same path as one’s father.
He followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the army.
She followed in her father’s footsteps by becoming a lawyer.
6. Every Father’s Daughter / Every Mother’s Son
Meaning: Refers to all people, emphasizing shared experience.
The rule applies to every father’s daughter and every mother’s son.
The lesson is true for every father’s daughter in the family.
7. Godfather
Meaning: A powerful mentor or originator of something.
He’s the godfather of modern hip-hop.
She considered her uncle the godfather of her career.
8. The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree
Meaning: Children often inherit traits from their parents.
He’s good at storytelling—the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Her humor proves the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
9. Father Time
Meaning: A symbol of time’s passage and aging.
Even the best athletes can’t outrun Father Time.
Wrinkles remind us that Father Time is always watching.
10. The Father of All (Something)
Meaning: The largest or most extreme version of something.
That was the father of all headaches.
They faced the father of all storms last night.
11. Papa Bear
Meaning: A protective or caring father.
He became a papa bear when his kids were threatened.
At home, he’s a gentle papa bear with his family.
12. To Be One’s Own Father
Meaning: To grow up independent without paternal guidance.
He left early and had to be his own father.
She was forced to be her own father after tragedy struck.
13. Father Knows Best
Meaning: Suggesting fathers often give the most reliable advice.
He wanted to argue but remembered that father knows best.
His dad warned him, and later he realized father knows best.
14. Sins of the Father
Meaning: Children may suffer consequences of their father’s actions.
He was judged for the sins of the father.
History shows how the sins of the father affect the next generation.
15. The Prodigal Son
Meaning: A child who strays but eventually returns home.
After years away, he came back like the prodigal son.
The prodigal son returned to his hometown in glory.
16. Wise as a Father
Meaning: Someone who gives mature, fatherly wisdom.
His advice was wise as a father’s.
She spoke with words wise as a father’s teaching.
17. Father to the Man
Meaning: Childhood shapes the adult we become.
Discipline in youth proves the child is father to the man.
Habits formed early show that the child is father to the man.
18. Big Daddy
Meaning: A figure of power, authority, or dominance.
He’s the big daddy of the tech world.
They called him big daddy because he was in charge.
19. Father of Lies
Meaning: Someone who spreads deceit.
They accused him of being the father of lies.
History often remembers rulers as fathers of lies.
20. Honor Thy Father
Meaning: A moral or religious call to respect one’s father.
She lived by the command to honor thy father and mother.
Festivals remind us to honor thy father with gratitude.
21. Father Confessor
Meaning: Someone you trust with personal secrets.
She treated her best friend as a father confessor.
He became a father confessor to many of his students.
22. Father Figure of the Nation
Meaning: A leader respected like a guiding father.
Nelson Mandela is remembered as a father figure of South Africa.
Mahatma Gandhi is honored as the father figure of India.
23. Father of Invention
Meaning: Necessity leads to creativity and new ideas.
They say necessity is the father of invention.
His experiment showed that necessity is truly the father of invention.
24. Fathers and Forefathers
Meaning: Ancestors or those who came before us.
We honor our fathers and forefathers during rituals.
The constitution was shaped by our forefathers’ vision.
25. Daddy’s Boy / Daddy’s Girl
Meaning: A child very close to their father.
She’s always been a daddy’s girl, very attached to him.
He’s proud to be a daddy’s boy, always supporting his dad.
