I am looking for a specific expression or phrase that means "a child is the exact opposite of his parent(s)"
Is there an opposite idiom, phrase or expression of the saying:
Like father, like son
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You can use 'nothing like somebody'. The boy is nothing like his father.– GrizzlyCommented Dec 7, 2015 at 2:08
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3Would you accept "switched at birth"?– deadratCommented Dec 7, 2015 at 4:41
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1Related: What do you call the child who doesn’t resemble his / her parents in English?– Mari-Lou ACommented Dec 7, 2015 at 10:14
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I'd suggest: S/he's the black sheep in the family See: en.wiktionary.org/wiki/black_sheep– Mari-Lou ACommented Dec 7, 2015 at 10:16
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4 Answers
“The pendulum swings.” is a simple sardonic phrase I've heard.
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“He's a preacher's son”, (probably an Americanism) which can be used when in fact a preacher has nothing to do with it. The son of a police officer may end up in trouble often and on drugs. Equally sardonic, “He's a preacher's son”, which to certain rural folk says quite a bit.
Just a couple ideas.
Edit: Just thought of another slightly related phrase, depending on your needs:
“The shoemaker's children go barefoot.”
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Could you offer an example on how to use “The pendulum swings.”? Commented Dec 7, 2015 at 2:13
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1@Rafael J - The parents of a boy are heavy smokers and love their Sunday roast. The boy decides early on smoking is very “not-cool”, and may explore being a vegetarian at some point to see if it fits. “How do you explain such complete opposites like that?” says auntie Jane. “The pendulum swings”, says uncle Joe. Everyone in the room nods.– ipsoCommented Dec 7, 2015 at 2:33
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1I find your Uncle Joe a poor reference. "The pendulum swings" both in google books and in general use on the web (not related to actual pendulums) refers to reversing trends -- economic, political, social, and the like -- not to unlikely nephews.– deadratCommented Dec 7, 2015 at 4:54
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@deadrat - Books barely begin to capture the wealth of human experience. However, this webpage now captures your lack of experience rather well. How old are you to imagine that the Web delimits for us all that is right and possible?– ipsoCommented Dec 7, 2015 at 5:41
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I don't think ELU has a badge for the most defensive reaction to criticism. If one existed, you'd have it. In gold. How old am I? Old enough to back up my claims with research and to admit when I'm wrong. How old are you?– deadratCommented Dec 7, 2015 at 5:49
The expression "must be the milkman's son/daughter" accomplishes close to what you want. While a bit dated I think it's still widely understood. If you're unfamiliar, it implies that the offspring is so different in some way than the father, that they must be the product of adultery.
Consider,
I don't know who he/she takes after.
Lamont stayed behind, looking disgusted. “That boy is just so cranky,” Mr. Otis told Ira. “I don't know who he takes after. Breathing Lessons
[I wonder/don't know] who he/she gets that from.
I don't know who he gets that from as his daddy and I both love to eat. The Abundant Life Project
"Changeling" means a child that was switched at birth in various mythologies, "Cuckoo in the nest" means being different than your peers, but it also kind of means not the actual child of the parents, which is different that just being not like the parents. "Like Chalk and Cheese" give the idea that two people are very different, but not specifically parent and child.
