de tal palo, tal astilla

like father, like son

de tal palo, tal astilla(deh tahl pah-loh tahl ahs-tee-yah)

phrase

1. (saying)

a. like father, like son (masculine)

Carlos es tan testarudo como su padre. - Bueno, ya se sabe, de tal palo, tal astilla.

Carlos is as stubborn as his father. - Well, as everyone knows, like father, like son.

b. like mother, like daughter (feminine)

Desde luego, de tal palo, tal astilla: Rosana es tan cariñosa como su madre, si no más.

Clearly, like mother, like daughter: Rosana is as affectionate as her mother, if not more.

c. he's a chip off the old block (masculine)

Miguel es guapísimo. - Igual que su madre. Como dicen, de tal palo, tal astilla.

Miguel is really handsome. - The same as his mother. As they say, he's a chip off the old block.

d. she's a chip off the old block (feminine)

Clara ha salido a su padre en todo . - Sí, de tal palo, tal astilla.

Clara has taken after her father in everything. - Yes, she's a chip off the old block.