Life is better with a few good friends. That’s probably why there are so many idioms about friendship in the English language. Idioms are a perfect way to describe friendships and, in fact, all relationships.
It can feel strange when you first meet a new person and you’re trying to discover what you have in common to build a friendship on. Similarly, idioms might not make much sense at first but with a little time and effort, you can figure them out.
In this list of friend idioms we have included definitions and example sentences so you can see how they are really used.
Idioms about friendship
A friend in need is a friend indeed
Perhaps starting our idioms about friendship list with a proverb isn’t the best idea, but it’s a very popular phrase. Saying a friend in need is a friend indeed is highlighting the meaning of true friendship: that a real friend will help you when you most need it.
“Don’t worry about paying me back. Remember, a friend in need is a friend indeed.”
On the other hand, someone who disappears when the going gets tough would prove themselves to be only a superficial friend.
Do you know the difference between an idiom and a proverb?
As thick as thieves
It may not look like it, but this is another example of a positive friends idiom. When you are as thick as thieves you have a very close friendship. Perhaps you share jokes and secrets and spend a lot of time together. There may even be a slight bit of mischief associated with the friendship!
“Look at those two grinning, they’re as thick as thieves.”
“The sisters may be in their eighties but they’ve been thick as thieves all their lives.”
You could also use this one to describe family members who are very close. There are lots of other family idioms you can use as well!
Birds of a feather (flock together)
Here’s another proverb that’s found its way on to our friendship idioms list, but there is a lot of truth in it. It’s a way of saying that people with the same hobbies, life circumstances, personalities, etc. tend to form friendships.
“We’ve always been friends as we all like playing Dungeons & Dragons. Like they say, birds of a feather flock together.”
In fact, this bird idiom is so well-known that there used to be a popular British BBC show of the same name.
Bury the hatchet
When you bury the hatchet you end a conflict or disagreement that you have had with another person. You put it in the past and become friends with them again.
“It’s been two years. Don’t you think it’s time to bury the hatchet?”
Find some more idioms about the past here.
Bosom buddies
Lots of idioms about friendship are lovely ways of describing your closest and dearest friend. And this is what a bosom buddy is: someone with whom you can share highs and lows, secrets and life experiences.
“They have been bosom buddies since the summer camp last year.”
A more modern term for this type of friend would be a BFF (Best Friend Forever).
Clear the air
Similar to burying the hatchet, when you ask to clear the air you are hoping to clarify a misunderstanding. It means you resolve any problems or arguments so that you all better understand each other and can continue being friends.
“Come on guys. Let’s clear the air so we can enjoy the night.”
This friendship idiom is usually used with reference to recent events that have caused tension between people. If you need to describe the argument or event that took place you could use these anger idioms.
Cross someone’s path
When you cross someone’s path or cross paths with someone, it simply means that you encounter them unexpectedly or ‘bump into’ them. This idiom could be used in a positive or negative sense:
“It’s been lovely meeting you, I hope we cross paths again some day.”
“After what he did to me, I hope I never cross his path again.”
Fast friends
If you describe two people as fast friends, it means they are very close, loyal or devoted in their friendship.
“James and I were fast friends during college but then we moved away and haven’t stayed in touch.”
Friends in high places
Perhaps you’ve heard people talk about having friends in high places and wondered where they live? This saying doesn’t refer to their actual location, but more to their level of seniority. These kinds of acquaintances have a lot of authority or power which they can use to help you.
“To be honest, I think he only got the job because he has friends in high places.”
You could also call these people movers and shakers, especially in a work or business context. Discover more work idioms here.
Frenemy
Here is one of the few negative friends idioms on our list. It’s a very modern term from popular culture which combines the words ‘friend’ and ‘enemy’. This type of word is known as a portmanteau.
A frenemy is someone you are friendly with or pretend to like but perhaps have a rivalry with. It could also be someone who you dislike but have to be nice to anyway.
“We both love dancing and hope to win the championship next week. She’s my rival and, I guess, my frenemy.”
You could also say this word is an oxymoron – a term which combines two incompatible concepts (like being friends and enemies).
Get on famously
With this list of idioms about friendship you are going to have plenty of ways to talk about getting along well with someone. And that is exactly what it means to get on famously with another person.
“Oh these two get on famously.”
Get on swimmingly
This is similar to ‘get on famously’, but you not only can get on swimmingly with a person but also with situations, projects or other experiences. It means that everything is progressing successfully (or even better than expected), without any problems.
“You may not like him but we get along swimmingly.”
“Paul is getting on swimmingly with dismantling the old shed.”
Friends idioms
Have a whale of a time
When you have a really great time doing something with a friend or a group of companions, you could say that you had a whale of a time. It means that you thoroughly enjoyed the time you spent together and you probably laughed a lot!
“We had a whale of a time at the theme park! We must go again soon.”
Idioms about happiness and enjoyment can be very useful for describing the times you have with your friends.
Joined at the hip
A lot of idioms about friendships talk about being close to someone or getting along with them very well. In a similar fashion, we say that two people are joined at the hip when they enjoy spending a lot of time together. They do lots of things together and some people might say they are inseparable.
“Even since they started playing football together they have been joined at the hip.”
Keep in touch
To be ‘in touch’ is to be in regular communication with someone. Even if you have a friend that you don’t see regularly, you probably keep in touch with them so that you know how they are doing. A variation of this is stay in touch.
“We live in different countries but we stay in touch via social media.”
“It’s been really nice meeting you. Let’s stay in touch.”
This is also an example of an idiom about talking.
Know someone inside out
This saying can be applied not only to friends but also anyone or anything that you know very well. When you know something or someone inside out you know it extremely well.
“We’ve been through a lot and I know her inside out.”
“I have been preparing hard for this test and I’m confident I know the topic inside out.”
Learning idioms are very useful expressions to know.
Like a house on fire
Have you ever met someone and immediately become friends with them and had loads to talk about? This is an example of getting on like a house on fire.
This house idiom might sound negative, but it actually just means your friendship with someone is effortless and developed very quickly (a bit like a fire spreading through a building).
“We had a great holiday and got on like a house on fire.”
“I’d like to introduce you to Sally. I think you two would get on like a house on fire.”
If you get on very well with someone, you may end up in a romantic relationship with them. If this is the case, you’d better check out some relationship idioms too!
Man’s best friend
Who or what, you may ask, is man’s best friend? This expression is a loving way to describe a dog, or dogs in general. Some people may argue that dogs are more loyal than human friends at times! In fact dogs and animals make for some great idioms.
“The only man I want is man’s best friend!”
By the way, the term ‘man’ in this sense means all people – humankind – not just males.
Move in the same circles
Sometimes you find that you keep meeting the same person or group of people. This might be because you have the same friends or perhaps attend the same events. You may even be part of the same clubs or visit the same venues. This would mean that you move in the same circles.
“I’m surprised you don’t know her as you move in the same circles.”
Peas in a pod
This is one of the hilarious idioms about friendships to try and picture: imagine two little green peas squashed together in their little green pea pod! When you use peas in a pod in terms of relationships it’s saying that two people are very alike. This could mean they look alike or act alike.
“My best friend and I are like two little peas in a pod.”
Same page / same wavelength
To say you are on the same page or the same wavelength as another person means you both are in agreement. Perhaps you work well together, think alike or have similar ideas.
“I love the way you’re thinking. We are totally on the same wavelength.”
This is a good example of a business idiom that you might hear at work, too.
Through thick and thin
Perhaps you have relationships like this, in which you have been through good times and bad times. No matter how hard or easy the situation, you have supported or been supported by the other person. This means you have been through thick and thin together.
“We have been through thick and thin together and it has only made our friendship stronger.”
You could also use this one as an idiom about marriage, if the relationship has survived difficult times.
Take another look through this useful list of idioms about friendship and try to pick out a few you like. Did you notice there are many ways of describing the same concept (like getting along well with someone)?
Although it’s good to be aware of all of them, practice one or two you like so that you can slip them in to conversation with ease. Before you know it you’ll have more English-speaking friends than you thought possible.
