das schwarze Schaf sein
to be the black sheep; the odd one out
Origin
Origin not clear; probably from sheep breeding: black wool could not be dyed and was deemed inferior, and the single black sheep stood out negatively. There are also biblical references.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Adjective declension after the definite article (nom./acc.)Adjektivdeklination nach bestimmtem Artikel (Nom./Akk.)
- Adjective declension after the indefinite article (nom./acc.)Adjektivdeklination nach unbestimmtem Artikel (Nom./Akk.)
Examples
In ihrer galt sie als das schwarze .
In her family she was considered the black sheep.