Meaning & use
killing the fatted calf
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Meanings
phraseidiomfigurative
to give someone a very warm welcome and a big celebration when they return after being away
Grammar: Used as a fixed phrase, usually with 'kill' or 'killing' and 'the fatted calf'. It often follows a subject like 'they' or 'the family'.
Patterns
- kill the fatted calf
- kill the fatted calf for someone
- be killing the fatted calf
When their son came home after ten years abroad, the whole village killed the fatted calf.
The company killed the fatted calf for the returning CEO, with a party and a speech.
She joked that her parents would kill the fatted calf if she ever moved back home.
phraseidiomfigurative
the act of celebrating someone's return with a special meal or party
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase, often after verbs like 'be' or 'mean'.
Patterns
- the killing of the fatted calf
- it was a killing of the fatted calf
The welcome dinner was a real killing of the fatted calf.
For the prodigal daughter, it was a killing of the fatted calf that lasted all weekend.
Common combinations
- kill the fatted calf
- They killed the fatted calf when their daughter returned from the army.
- kill the fatted calf for someone
- The whole town killed the fatted calf for the winning team.
- be killing the fatted calf
- Right now the family is killing the fatted calf for their eldest son.
- a fatted calf
- In the story, the father orders a fatted calf to be prepared.
Synonyms and how they differ
- roll out the red carpet
- This means to give someone special treatment, but it does not always include a big family meal or a return from a long absence.
- welcome with open arms
- This focuses on the emotional warmth of the welcome, not on the feast or celebration.
Word family
- fatted adjective
- Describes an animal that has been fed well and is ready for slaughter, as in 'fatted calf'.
- calf noun
- A young cow or bull; in this idiom it refers to the animal killed for a special meal.
Commonly confused: killing the fatted calf or kill the goose that lays the golden eggs? killing the fatted calf or fatted calf?
killing the fatted calf vs kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
This means to destroy a source of profit by being greedy. It is not about welcoming someone home.
killing the fatted calf vs fatted calf
This is just the animal, not the whole phrase. The idiom is 'kill the fatted calf'.
Practice
Which sentence uses the idiom 'killing the fatted calf' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The idiom means to celebrate someone's return with a big welcome. Option B fits because it mentions a homecoming and a huge party. Option An is wrong because ignoring someone is the opposite of a warm welcome. Option C is wrong because the idiom is about spending on a celebration, not saving money. Option D is wrong because anger does not fit the positive meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “killing the fatted calf”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.