La oveja negra de la familia

Click on the image to listen to the song, “Black sheep pf the family” by Rainbow

Meaning:

A person who is disgraceful  for a group of people. Someone who nobody can feel proud of.

Click on the image to watch Bray Singles explaining this idiom to you

Origin:

This idiom has been used since the XIX century to describe someone who brings dishonor or who brings shame to a family, group of people or community. Farmers thought that black sheep were a disgrace for them since they couldn´t dye their black fleece. Moreover, people believed that black sheep were brought by the devil to scare the others. Invariably, black sheep were always put to death.

Click on the image to listen to the song, “Black sheep of the family” by Quartermass

Example:

• My cousin James dropped out school when he was 15. Then, he starting doing odd jobs to survive, but at 18 he started a criminal career that took him to prison; where he will stay for five years. Every time that people ask me about James, I just answer. I don´t want to talk about him. He is the black sheep of the family.