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Exploring friendship idioms offers us a window into the depth of human connections and the roles we play in each other’s lives. We use expressions like “a friend in need is a friend indeed” to express the importance of standing by each other during tough times, suggesting that the true test of friendship is support when it’s most needed. Similarly, “Birds of a Feather Flock Together” highlights how our friendships often form through shared interests and characteristics.
Friendship Idioms List
List of Friendship Idioms
Idiom | |
---|---|
A friend in need is a friend indeed | Birds of a feather flock together |
To hit it off | Fair-weather friend |
Like two peas in a pod | Friends in high places |
To be as thick as thieves | To be joined at the hip |
To bury the hatchet | To have someone’s back |
A shoulder to cry on | Through thick and thin |
To be on the same wavelength | To bond over something |
To go back a long way | To see eye to eye |
An old flame | To stand by someone |
To take under one’s wing | To be someone’s right-hand man (or woman) |
Two heads are better than one | To be in someone’s corner |
To click with someone |
What are Friendship Idioms?
In our language, friendship idioms are phrases that capture the intricacies of relationships in a few words. We use these expressions to convey our experiences and emotions about friendships in a way that’s easy for others to understand.
Common Friendship Idioms
We often rely on idioms as linguistic shortcuts to express something complex about our social bonds. Here’s a glance at some popular ones:
- A friend in need is a friend indeed: Shows that true friends are there in difficult times.
- To hit it off: Describes the start of a great friendship with immediate good rapport.
- Like two peas in a pod: Used when two friends are very similar or always together.
- To be as thick as thieves: Implies friends share deep bonds and possibly secrets.
- To bury the hatchet: Refers to resolving a dispute and restoring friendship.
Friendship Idioms with Meaning and Example
Idioms | Meanings and Example Sentences |
---|---|
Birds of a feather flock together | People with similar interests or characteristics tend to associate with each other.
Example: “They’re always together at social events—birds of a feather flock together.“ |
Fair-weather friend | A person who is only a friend in good times but disappears in times of trouble.
Example: “As soon as I lost my job, I learned who my fair-weather friends were.” |
Friends in high places | Having friends in influential positions.
Example: “She got the job easily thanks to some friends in high places.“ |
To be joined at the hip | To be very close or inseparable friends.
Example: “Those two are always together; they’re practically joined at the hip.“ |
To have someone’s back | To be prepared to support or defend someone.
Example: “Don’t worry about the meeting—I have your back.“ |
A shoulder to cry on | Someone willing to listen to your problems and provide comfort.
Example: “Whenever I’m upset, I know she’ll be a shoulder to cry on.“ |
Through thick and thin | Staying supportive or loyal in good times and bad.
Example: “We’ve been friends through thick and thin.“ |
To be on the same wavelength | To understand and agree with each other.
Example: “We don’t even need to finish our sentences—we’re always on the same wavelength.“ |
To bond over something | To develop a close relationship because of a shared interest or experience.
Example: “They bonded over their love for hiking.” |
To go back a long way | To have known each other for a long time.
Example: “We go back a long way; we’ve been friends since childhood.” |
To see eye to eye | To agree with each other.
Example: “It’s nice that we always see eye to eye on the important things.” |
An old flame | A person with whom one once had a romantic relationship.
Example: “He bumped into an old flame at the reunion.” |
To stand by someone | To support or remain loyal to someone, especially in difficult times.
Example: “No matter what happens, I’ll stand by you.“ |
To take under one’s wing | To help, guide, or protect someone.
Example: “The experienced teacher took the new hire under her wing.“ |
Two heads are better than one | It’s beneficial to have two people working on a problem instead of one.
Example: “Let’s work together on this—two heads are better than one.“ |
To be in someone’s corner | To support someone, especially during a difficult time or when they are involved in a conflict.
Example: “It’s good to know you’re in my corner.“ |
To click with someone | To immediately like and get along well with someone.
Example: “We just clicked the first time we met.” |
To be someone’s right-hand man (or woman) | To be the primary helper or assistant to someone.
Example: “She’s always been my right-hand woman in the business.” |
Friendship Idioms in Different Contexts
A friend in need is a friend indeed
- In Loyalty: When someone supports a friend during difficult times.
Example: “When I was sick, she was the only one who visited me—a friend in need is a friend indeed.”
- In Recognizing True Friends: When distinguishing between fair-weather friends and true friends.
Example: “He always helps me out when things get tough. He’s a friend in need is a friend indeed.”
To hit it off
- In Social Encounters: When two people find they have a lot in common and enjoy each other’s company.
Example: “They met at the party and hit it off; they’ve been inseparable since.”
- In Forming New Relationships: When two individuals connect well and establish rapport easily.
Example: “Our new coworkers hit it off right from the start, which is great for team morale.”
Like two peas in a pod
- In Similarity: When emphasizing the closeness or similarity between friends.
Example: “The twins are like two peas in a pod, with nearly identical interests and ideas.”
- In Compatibility: When two people are well-matched in their tastes or behaviors.
Example: “My best friend and I are like two peas in a pod; we always know what the other is thinking.”
To be as thick as thieves
- In Close Friendships: When describing a deep, almost conspiratorial, friendship.
Example: “They’ve been as thick as thieves since they were children, always sticking up for each other.”
- In Trust: When two people trust each other enough to share private information.
Example: “The two colleagues are as thick as thieves and often collaborate on projects outside of work.”
To bury the hatchet
- In Reconciliation: When former adversaries decide to put aside their differences.
Example: “After years of rivalry, the two companies decided to bury the hatchet and work together.”
- In Forgiveness: When individuals choose to forgive each other and move on from past conflicts.
Example: “It’s time we buried the hatchet and put that argument behind us.”
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