bred in the bone
In the marrow
Bred in the bone describes a quality so deeply ingrained it seems part of someone's nature—inherited or instilled from earliest life rather than learned later.
Her generosity is bred in the bone.
The phrase suggests characteristics that can't easily be changed or removed, as if woven into one's very skeleton.
- entrenchedFirmly established, resistant to change
- inherentExisting as essential part
- ingrainedFirmly established by habit
- in the bloodInherited by birth
- innateExisting since birth
deep-seated · runs deep · deep down · heritage · integral · instinctive · ancestry · intrinsic · hardwired · congenital · nature versus nurture · characteristic · legacy · upbringing · lineage · genetic · tradition · through and through
- Family Resemblancespitting image, identical twins, look-alike, family resemblance, takes after
bred in the bonelearned
Having much knowledge
acquired · cultivated · adopted · picked up · developed
bred in the boneskin-deep
Affecting only the surface
superficial · surface-level · put on · affected · shallow
bred, bone, breed, breeds, breeding, breeder, breeders, inbred, inbreeding