phrase

• 1A famous man who is particularly popular in his native area.

  ‘Essex's favourite son will open at Lord's to launch the cricket season’

  More example sentences

  • ‘It was the work of a schoolgirl, then 13, who was so moved by the impending departure of the town's favourite son that she committed her thoughts to verse.’
  • ‘Yes, the favourite son of American liberalism is back in the news.’
  • ‘It is not meant to be disparaging of Oxford's favourite son.’
  • ‘The shadow thrown by Chicago's favourite son looms large, though.’
  • ‘I still get confused: was he Donegal's favourite son or was he from Cork?’
  • ‘What began as an advertisement for a kit manufacturer has subsequently become a monument to the city's favourite son.’
  • ‘He's the favorite son of the day, but he's not very exciting, is he?’
  • ‘I mean, he's still the favorite son here in Texas.’
  • ‘His adopted hometown of Santa Barbara actually welcomed back its favorite son with a parade this afternoon.’
  • ‘In the case of both, they are going to have to make the case that they are more than just the favorite son of their establishments.’

  1. 1.1US A person supported as a presidential candidate by delegates from the candidate's home state.
     ‘he hoped to strengthen his position as Maryland's favourite son’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Upon the death of the Justice in 1851, he became New Hampshire's favorite son presidential candidate.’
     • ‘In 1880, he supported Ohio's favorite son, John Sherman, for the Republican presidential nomination, opposing a third term for Ulysses S. Grant.’
     • ‘In fact, the predecessor often chooses, endorses, or otherwise supports the favorite son as the most appropriate successor to pursue the course that he has established.’
     • ‘For that reason, the state's favorite son and unofficial leading candidate would take a pass.’
     • ‘And only one time since 1964 have they carried the South, and that, of course, was in '76 when Jimmy Carter was a favorite son.’
     • ‘Here in South Carolina, he's not in the lead, but he's breathing down the neck of the man who is, in effect, the favorite son.’
     • ‘He was first elected to the House from neighboring Missouri in 1976 and is considered a favorite son among many Iowa Democrats.’
     • ‘Texas casts all its votes for her favorite son and the best father in America.’