English Idioms About Friendship

Friendship is like a special treasure chest filled with moments of joy, secrets, and adventures shared between friends. Just like there are many keys to open a treasure chest, there are many expressions, or “idioms,” that describe the beautiful bond of friendship in fun and interesting ways.

These idioms help us understand and express our feelings about friends and friendship in a colorful and vivid language. Whether you’re starting to learn English or want to add more sparkling words to your collection, friendship idioms are like precious gems that make your conversations shine. Let’s embark on a journey to explore these special phrases that celebrate the magic of friendship!

What Does Mean Friendship?

Friendship is a close and trusting relationship between two or more people. It is built on mutual affection, understanding, and support, offering companionship and shared joy. Friends stand by each other through good times and bad, providing a foundation of loyalty, empathy, and encouragement.

Idioms About Friendship

1. Thick as thieves

Meaning: Close

Examples:

• They are thick as thieves together.
• Thick as thieves since childhood.
• Acts thick as thieves, inseparable duo.

2. Fair-weather friend

Meaning: Unreliable

Examples:

• He’s just a fair-weather friend.
• Fair-weather friends vanish in trouble.
• Learnt she’s a fair-weather friend.

3. Birds of a feather

Meaning: Similar

Examples:

• Birds of a feather flock together.
• They’re birds of a feather, inseparable.
• Birds of feather, always seen together.

4. Through thick and thin

Meaning: Loyally

Examples:

• Stuck together through thick and thin.
• Friends through thick and thin.
• Supports me through thick and thin.

5. Friends in high places

Meaning: Influential

Examples:

• Has friends in high places.
• Useful having friends in high places.
• Leveraged his friends in high places.

6. A shoulder to cry on

Meaning: Supportive

Examples:

• She’s always a shoulder to cry on.
• Needed a shoulder to cry on.
• Offered his shoulder to cry on.

7. Hit it off

Meaning: Connect

Examples:

• They hit it off immediately.
• Hit it off at the party.
• New coworkers hit it off quickly.

8. Join at the hip

Meaning: Inseparable

Examples:

• They’re practically joined at the hip.
• Joined at the hip since college.
• Twins joined at the hip always.

9. Like two peas in a pod

Meaning: Alike

Examples:

• They’re like two peas in a pod.
• Sisters like two peas in a pod.
• Friends like peas in a pod.

10. Bury the hatchet

Meaning: Reconcile

Examples:

• They decided to bury the hatchet.
• Time to bury the hatchet, friends.
• Burying the hatchet after long feud.

11. Walk the extra mile

Meaning: Dedicated

Examples:

• He walks the extra mile for friends.
• Always walking the extra mile.
• Walks extra mile, helps everyone.

12. Old flame

Meaning: Ex-lover

Examples:

• Met an old flame yesterday.
• Old flame rekindled their friendship.
• His old flame moved away.

13. Break the ice

Meaning: Initiate

Examples:

• Used humor to break the ice.
• Breaking the ice at new job.
• Ice broken, everyone relaxed.

14. A friend in need is a friend indeed

Meaning: Trustworthy

Examples:

• Proved a friend indeed in crises.
• Friend indeed, helped during hardship.
• True friend indeed, always there.

15. Keep someone at arm’s length

Meaning: Distance

Examples:

• Keeps questionable friends at arm’s length.
• At arm’s length from troublemakers.
• Keeping him at arm’s length now.

16. See eye to eye

Meaning: Agree

Examples:

• We always see eye to eye.
• Rarely see eye to eye, still friends.
• Seeing eye to eye makes peace.

17. On the same wavelength

Meaning: Sync

Examples:

• They’re always on the same wavelength.
• Found someone on the same wavelength.
• On same wavelength, work well together.

18. Cross paths

Meaning: Meet

Examples:

• We crossed paths at the cafe.
• Old friends crossed paths unexpectedly.
• Cross paths every now and then.

19. Build bridges

Meaning: Connect

Examples:

• Always trying to build bridges.
• Built bridges between feuding friends.
• Building bridges, improving relationships.

20. Tie the knot

Meaning: Marry

Examples:

• They decided to tie the knot.
• High school sweethearts tied the knot.
• Finally tying the knot next spring.

21. A listening ear

Meaning: Attentive

Examples:

• Always provides a listening ear.
• Needed a listening ear, she helped.
• Grateful for her listening ear.

22. Two-way street

Meaning: Reciprocal

Examples:

• Friendship is a two-way street.
• Their support is a two-way street.
• True friendships are two-way streets.

23. Mend fences

Meaning: Reconcile

Examples:

• Time to mend fences with him.
• Mending fences after the argument.
• Decided to mend fences, restore peace.

24. Rub shoulders with

Meaning: Associate

Examples:

• Rubs shoulders with famous people.
• Rubbed shoulders at the elite event.
• She’s been rubbing shoulders with celebrities.

25. Bridge the gap

Meaning: Unite

Examples:

• Bridging the gap between generations.
• Worked to bridge the cultural gap.
• Bridge the gap, bring us together.

26. Clear the air

Meaning: Clarify

Examples:

• Needed to clear the air quickly.
• Cleared the air, friends again.
• Clearing the air improved their relationship.

27. Iron out differences

Meaning: Resolve

Examples:

• They ironed out their differences.
• Ironing out differences, strengthening friendship.
• Needed to iron out some issues.

28. Cut ties

Meaning: Sever

Examples:

• Had to cut ties with him.
• Cutting ties with toxic friends.
• Cut ties, moved on peacefully.

29. No strings attached

Meaning: Unconditional

Examples:

• Offers help, no strings attached.
• Friendship, no strings attached.
• Lends money, no strings attached.

30. Circle of friends

Meaning: Group

Examples:

• Has a large circle of friends.
• Her circle of friends is tight.
• Circle of friends went camping.

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