to look alike – to look very similar to someone else
- My twin sister and I look alike and people often call us by each other’s names.
to take after (someone) – to be very similar to an older family member
- Mila was excellent at drawing. She took after her mother who was a famous artist.
a chip off the old block – the person is very similar (in character and personality) to
one of their parents
- Sanjay is always cracking jokes, just like his father. He’s a real chip off the old
block.
to follow in someone’s footsteps – to do the same thing as someone else did
previously, especially someone in your family
- I want to follow in my father’s footsteps and become a doctor like he is.
spitting image – to look extremely similar to someone
- Cher is the spitting image of her mother.
wears the trousers – to be the person in a family who holds the authority and makes
decisions
- My dad likes to thinks that he’s in charge but it’s my mother who wears the
trousers in our house.
black sheep (of the family)– someone who brings shame to their family by being
different or doing something wrong
- My brother first started getting into trouble with the police when he was a teenager
and he’s become the black sheep of the family.
IELTS-Style Speaking Test Questions and Answers
Common family vocabulary is highlighted in bold.
Part 1
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