Flesh and blood has two meanings: “your own family” and “a real human being, not a machine”. In the first meaning, it is used about close relatives, usually as own flesh and blood, to stress that someone is family. In the second, as be only flesh and blood, it reminds people that a person has feelings and limits. The expression is emotional; in an essay about family, relatives or family members sounds more neutral.
When would you say flesh and blood?
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someone's (own) flesh and blood; be only flesh and blood
- I can't just ignore my brother's problems; he's my own flesh and blood.
- Grandma treats her neighbour's kids as kindly as her own flesh and blood.
- Our coach expects us to train twice a day, but we're only flesh and blood.
What changed
First versionI'll always support my brother because he's my native blood.
RevisionI'll always support my brother because he's my own flesh and blood.
Native may seem to fit because it describes where you come from, but it is used in combinations like native language or native country, not for family ties. About a brother or sister, English says own flesh and blood. Only native blood was replaced.
With hyphens, flesh-and-blood goes before a noun and means “real, living”, as opposed to imaginary or idealised: The film shows him as a flesh-and-blood person, not a hero from a poster.
Your turn
I know you're angry with your sister, but she's your own ___, so try to forgive her.
Show the answer
flesh and blood — The sentence is about a sister and about forgiving a family member, so flesh and blood is needed. Skin and bones describes a very thin person and has nothing to do with a quarrel with your sister.
Write about a relative you would do a lot for. Say how you are related and what you have done for them.
My cousin is my own flesh and blood, so I drove four hours to help her move into her new flat.
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