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brother
everyone and their brother
A large number or a majority of people. Used hyperbolically. Everyone and their brother is going to be at the wedding this July, I hope I can make it too.
Big Brother is watching you
A phrase taken from George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, meaning one's actions and intentions are being monitored by the government as a means of controlling and suppressing the will of the populace. You have to be careful what you write in an email these days. Big Brother is watching you, after all.
everybody and their brother
Used hyperbolically to express a large number or a majority of people. I'm so jealous, everybody and their brother is going on a vacation this summer except for me.
blood brother
A boy or man who has sworn loyalty to another despite not being biologically related. When Jake and Tim entered the battlefield, they became blood brothers, vowing to protect each other from harm's way.
older brother
A male who is older than one or more of his siblings. I'll ask my older brother to help us with the move. Connie's older brother will be there on Saturday, and I'd really like you to meet him. Our neighbor Jim was like an older brother to me when I was growing up.
younger brother
One's younger male sibling. Yeah, I have a younger brother—his name is Jim. Johnny is Bella's younger brother.
be (not) (one's) brother's keeper
To be responsible for another person's actions. This phrase is often used in the negative and can refer to anyone (not just one's literal brother). Of course I'm disappointed that Travis got arrested again, but I'm not my brother's keeper. When I'm babysitting him, I'm my brother's keeper.
be one's brother's keeper
to be responsible for someone else. (Used of others besides just real brothers.) I can't force these kids to go to school and get an education so they can get jobs. I am not my brother's keeper. You can't expect me to be my brother's keeper. Each of us should be responsible for himself! be one's own man and be one's own master to be someone who is not controlled by other people; to be an independent person. Bert longed to be his own master, but at the same time feared losing the security he had as the employee of a large company. When I go away to college, I'll be my own man. My parents won't be able to tell me what to do anymore.
everybody and his brother
and everybody and his uncleFig. everybody; lots of people. The state fair was packed. Everybody and his brother was there. Everybody and his uncle was asking me where you was today.
I am not my brother's keeper.
and Am I my brother's keeper?Prov. You are not responsible for another person's doings or whereabouts. (Biblical.) Fred: Where's Robert? Jane: Am I my brother's keeper? Jill: How could you let Jane run off like that? Alan: I'm not my brother's keeper.
(soul) brother
a black person's male, black friend. Another brother took a fall last night. Terry's a soul brother, and I'll do anything for him.
Big Brother
a government or a large organization which tries to control every part of people's lives and to know everything about them
Usage notes: In the book 1984 by George Orwell, Big Brother is the very powerful ruler.
Many people are concerned about Big Brother having computer files on them to which they do not have access. a blood brother
a man who has promised to treat another man as his brother, often in a ceremony in which they cut themselves and mix their blood together We were blood brothers - I was ready to die for him.
everyone and his brother
(American) a very large number of people We couldn't get in to see the movie - everyone and his brother had decided to go.
See be on everyone's lips not be your brother's keeper
also not be somebody's keeper to not be responsible for what someone does or for what happens to them It's all too easy for us not to intervene in another country's problems, telling ourselves that we're not our brother's keeper. You shouldn't blame yourself for what's happened to Simon. You're not his keeper, you know.
big brother
1. n. a personification of the totalitarian state. (From George Orwell’s 1984.) Big brother has changed the tax laws again.
2. n. someone who personifies the totalitarian state: the police, parents, teachers. Big brother says the paper is due tomorrow, or else.
blood (brother)
n. a fellow black male. (see also
blood.)
One of the bloods came up to say hello. brews brothers
n. (male) beer-drinking college students. (A play on The Blues Brothers, a popular movie released in 1980.) You guys look like the devil and you smell like the brews brothers.
(soul) brother
n. a black person’s male, black friend. Another brother took a fall last night.
brother
verb