Fill in the blank with correct word to complete the proverb:
Blood is ___ than water.

Question

Fill in the blank with correct word to complete the proverb: 
Blood is ___ than water.

Accepted Answer

The correct proverb is "Blood is **thicker** than water."

Here's a detailed explanation:

1.  **Why Option 2 (thicker) is correct:**
    The proverb "Blood is thicker than water" is an idiom that means family relationships and loyalties are stronger and more important than relationships with people outside the family (such as friends or acquaintances). The word "thicker" is used metaphorically to convey a sense of greater density, substance, or strength. Just as blood is physically thicker and more viscous than water, the bonds of kinship are considered to be more profound, enduring, and binding than other social connections. It emphasizes that in times of crisis or need, one's primary loyalty and support will often lie with their family.

2.  **Why Option 1 (thinner) is incorrect:**
    If the proverb were "Blood is thinner than water," it would imply the opposite meaning – that family ties are weaker or less significant than other relationships. This directly contradicts the established and widely understood meaning of the proverb, which champions the strength of family bonds.

3.  **Why Option 3 (purer) is incorrect:**
    While one might argue that family love can be "purer" in some contexts, the word "purer" does not fit the traditional and metaphorical structure of this specific proverb. The proverb is not primarily about the moral or emotional purity of relationships, but rather about their comparative strength, depth, and priority. "Purer" does not convey the sense of inherent strength and binding nature that "thicker" does in this idiom.

4.  **Why Option 4 (precious) is incorrect:**
    Blood can certainly be considered "precious," especially in a literal sense (e.g., for life-saving transfusions) or metaphorically (e.g., precious lifeblood). However, "precious" does not complete the proverb "Blood is ___ than water" in its established idiomatic form. The proverb uses a comparative adjective related to physical properties ("thicker") to metaphorically express the greater strength and importance of family ties. "Precious" does not fit this comparative structure or the intended meaning of prioritizing family bonds over others.