flesh and blood

noun

1

a

: corporeal nature as composed of flesh and of blood

"This must be the devil, and no man of flesh and blood," whispered the yeoman …

—Sir Walter Scott

b

: a human being

more than flesh and blood can bear

2

: near kindred

—used chiefly in the phrase one's own flesh and blood

3

: substance, reality

Examples of flesh and blood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The question becomes, then, if the average person really needs a fake pet that apparently grows just attached to you as a flesh and blood companion. —Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025

How could my child, my flesh and blood, avert his gaze from them? —Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025

Doherty, 30, is playing meek flower shop assistant Seymour in the treasured musical, about a strange and unusual plant that feeds only on human flesh and blood. —Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025

Imagine entering the Big Brother house unaware that your own flesh and blood is living and playing alongside you? —Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 5 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for flesh and blood

• waterflood
• bud
• crud
• dud
• flood
• mud
• rud
• scud
• spud
• stud
• thud
• lifeblood