- English translation
They had already decided he was as fine as his father before they ever laid eyes on him.
- Literal wording
Before they saw him, they said: "Good, just like his father."
- Meaning and lesson
The saying mocks people who issue a verdict before they have any evidence. They declare that someone takes after his father, and is just as good, without ever having seen him, so their judgment rests on expectation rather than observation. The father-and-son image is illustrative, not a literal comment on family resemblance.
More broadly, it warns against deciding the quality of anything in advance. Assumptions about lineage, reputation, or appearance can lead people to praise or dismiss something they have not actually examined, and the proverb exposes that rush to conclude.
- When it is used
A conversational, colloquial saying used to tease or rebuke someone who praises or condemns a person, plan, or object they have not yet encountered. It fits when a verdict rests on assumptions, reputation, or family background rather than direct observation.
- Register
- colloquial
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: They had already decided he was as fine as his father before they ever laid eyes on him.