a bad tree does not yield good apples
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Bad parents do not raise good children.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “a bad tree does not yield good apples” mean?
Bad parents do not raise good children.
Is “a bad tree does not yield good apples” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.