What does ‘blood is thicker than water’ mean?
To “blood is thicker than water” means to family ties outweigh other loyalties. Brewer's records the proverb in traditional English form; the popular claim that the original was longer and meant the opposite is not supported by earlier evidence.
Origin
- Brewer's records the proverb in traditional English form; the popular claim that the original was longer and meant the opposite is not supported by earlier evidence.
How to use it
- Common in family talk about loyalty.
- Example: He took his brother in — blood is thicker than water.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.