Sheep may be known for their docile nature and their tendency to follow the herd, but these woolly creatures have much more to offer than meets the eye.
For centuries, their behaviors—both charming and frustrating—have become woven into the fabric of our language, giving rise to a slew of colorful idioms and phrases.
Whether they’re lost, misled, or simply following the flock, sheep continue to inspire expressions that resonate with everyday life.
And even as we witness their presence in pop culture, it’s clear that the legacy of the humble sheep lives on in the phrases we use.
Black sheep
Meaning: A person who is considered an outsider or different from the rest of a group.
Example: Mark always felt like the black sheep at family gatherings because he had a completely different lifestyle from his relatives.
Black sheep of the family
Meaning: A person in a family who is considered problematic or unconventional.
Example: Sarah is often referred to as the black sheep of the family due to her rebellious nature.
Counting sheep
Meaning: A technique used to fall asleep by imagining sheep jumping over a fence.
Example: I couldn’t sleep last night, so I started counting sheep to help me drift off.
Follow the flock
Meaning: To do what others are doing without independent thought.
Example: He always follows the flock, never daring to make his own decisions.
Like a lamb to the slaughter
Meaning: Going into a situation without realizing the danger or harm ahead.
Example: She walked into the meeting like a lamb to the slaughter, unaware of the difficult questions she would face.
Lost Sheep
Meaning: A person who is confused, misguided, or in need of direction, often in a moral or spiritual sense.
Example: After years of drifting from job to job, John felt like a lost sheep, searching for a sense of purpose.
Make Sheep’s Eyes
Meaning: A gaze that is innocent, wide, or wistful, often conveying vulnerability or a longing for affection.
Example: She gazed at him with sheep’s eyes, hoping he’d notice her interest, but he was too absorbed in his work to see.
Pull the wool over someone’s eyes
Meaning: To deceive or trick someone.
Example: The salesman tried to pull the wool over my eyes with promises that were too good to be true.
Separate the sheep from the goats
Meaning: To distinguish between the good and the bad or the competent and the incompetent.
Example: The interview process will help separate the sheep from the goats and find the best candidate.
Sheep without a shepherd
Meaning: Someone who is confused, lost, or lacking guidance.
Example: After the project manager left, the team felt like sheep without a shepherd, unsure of what to do next.
Sheepish grin
Meaning: A shy or embarrassed smile, often after making a mistake.
Example: When he realized his mistake, he gave a sheepish grin and apologized.
Two shakes of a lamb’s tail
Meaning: A very short period of time.
Example: I’ll be ready in two shakes of a lamb’s tail—just need to grab my jacket.
Wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Someone who appears harmless but is actually dangerous or deceptive.
Example: He seemed like a nice guy, but soon enough, we realized he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.