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Discover LudwigThe phrase 'bred-in-the-bone' is correct and usable in written English, though it is not very common in everyday speech.
It can be used to describe something that is deeply ingrained or innate in a person's character or nature. It often carries a negative connotation, implying that the trait or behavior is entrenched and difficult to change. Example: "Her obsession with perfectionism was bred-in-the-bone, inherited from generations of high-achieving ancestors." In this sentence, the phrase suggests that the character's perfectionism is not something she learned or acquired through experience, but rather a fundamental part of her personality.
Dictionary
bred-in-the-bone
adjective
Firmly established or instilled; deep-seated.
Exact(15)
As a lawyer, I have a bred-in-the-bone respect for due process and civil liberties.
Robert D. Krebs of the Fort Worth-based Burlington Northern is a bred-in-the-bone railroad man, with 34 years' experience running American trains.
Indeed, Thomas B. Fenlon, a lawyer and author, said in his 1996 book that Pelham has always been known for its bred-in-the-bone neighborliness.
Kingsolver's older daughter, Camille, who goes off to college midway through the experiment, is a bred-in-the-bone cook too.
In one of the sharpest, a zoot-suited white youth turns to his black companion (a Chopin expert) for bred-in-the-bone information about Louis Armstrong.
All winter, he campaigned more like a bred-in-the-bone conservative than a Massachusetts governor who championed a health care system that became the president's model.
Similar(43)
But much is bred in the bone.
His activism was bred in the bone.
It was bred in the bone.
That was bred in the bone.
"Jazz singing is bred in the bone.
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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com