24 Idioms for Friendship
Friendship is one of the most valued parts of life—and the English language has developed many idioms to describe it. Whether it’s a bond that’s lasted a lifetime or a friendship that’s just begun, these expressions help us talk about connection, trust, support, and even the ups and downs between friends.
In this article, you’ll discover 24 idioms for friendship, each explained with a clear meaning, example sentences, and alternative ways to express the same idea. These idioms will help you talk about friendships with warmth, clarity, and color—whether you’re speaking or writing.
1. A friend in need is a friend indeed
Meaning: A true friend is someone who helps you when you really need it
In a Sentence:
– “She stayed by me during tough times—truly, a friend in need is a friend indeed.”
– “You find out who your real friends are when things go wrong.”
Other Ways to Say: Loyal friend / True companion
2. Thick as thieves
Meaning: Very close friends who share secrets or do everything together
In a Sentence:
– “Those two are thick as thieves—they’re always together.”
– “We’ve been thick as thieves since childhood.”
Other Ways to Say: Inseparable / Best buddies
3. Get on like a house on fire
Meaning: To become very good friends quickly
In a Sentence:
– “They met last week but already get on like a house on fire.”
– “We got on like a house on fire from the moment we spoke.”
Other Ways to Say: Hit it off / Instantly connect
4. Joined at the hip
Meaning: Always together, extremely close
In a Sentence:
– “My cousins are joined at the hip—they do everything together.”
– “Ever since they met, they’ve been joined at the hip.”
Other Ways to Say: Constantly together / Extremely close
5. Two peas in a pod
Meaning: Very similar in interests, personality, or appearance
In a Sentence:
– “They’re like two peas in a pod—always agreeing on everything.”
– “My best friend and I are two peas in a pod.”
Other Ways to Say: Alike / Soulmates
6. Hit it off
Meaning: To quickly form a good relationship or friendship
In a Sentence:
– “We hit it off the moment we started talking.”
– “She hit it off with everyone at the party.”
Other Ways to Say: Instantly connect / Become friends quickly
7. Bury the hatchet
Meaning: To forgive someone and become friends again after a disagreement
In a Sentence:
– “After years of not talking, we finally buried the hatchet.”
– “They had a big fight, but now they’ve buried the hatchet and moved on.”
Other Ways to Say: Make peace / Reconcile
8. Have someone’s back
Meaning: To support or defend someone, especially in difficult times
In a Sentence:
– “No matter what happens, she always has my back.”
– “True friends have each other’s backs.”
Other Ways to Say: Be supportive / Stand by someone
9. See eye to eye
Meaning: To agree or get along well with someone
In a Sentence:
– “We don’t always see eye to eye, but we’re still great friends.”
– “It’s easy to work with him—we see eye to eye on most things.”
Other Ways to Say: Agree / Get along
10. Through thick and thin
Meaning: In good times and bad times; loyal no matter what
In a Sentence:
– “She’s been my best friend through thick and thin.”
– “Friends who stick with you through thick and thin are rare.”
Other Ways to Say: Unconditionally / No matter what
11. Know someone inside out
Meaning: To know everything about a person
In a Sentence:
– “We’ve been friends for so long—I know her inside out.”
– “They know each other inside out—it’s like they read each other’s minds.”
Other Ways to Say: Know deeply / Be very familiar
12. Shoulder to cry on
Meaning: Someone who listens and provides comfort during difficult times
In a Sentence:
– “After the breakup, my best friend was my shoulder to cry on.”
– “He’s always there when I need a shoulder to cry on.”
Other Ways to Say: Emotional support / Someone to lean on
13. Fair-weather friend
Meaning: A person who is only your friend during good times
In a Sentence:
– “When I lost my job, he disappeared—just a fair-weather friend.”
– “You don’t need fair-weather friends; you need people who stay through hard times.”
Other Ways to Say: Unreliable friend / Temporary companion
14. Friends in high places
Meaning: Friends who are powerful or influential
In a Sentence:
– “He got the promotion quickly—he has friends in high places.”
– “Having friends in high places can really open doors.”
Other Ways to Say: Well-connected / Influential contacts
15. Like family
Meaning: Extremely close and treated with the same care as a relative
In a Sentence:
– “We’re not related, but she’s like family to me.”
– “His best friend has been like family since they were kids.”
Other Ways to Say: As close as kin / Deep bond
16. Make friends with
Meaning: To become friends with someone
In a Sentence:
– “She made friends with the new student right away.”
– “It’s easy for him to make friends wherever he goes.”
Other Ways to Say: Befriend / Connect socially
17. Hit it off right away
Meaning: To immediately get along well when first meeting
In a Sentence:
– “We hit it off right away and have been close ever since.”
– “They hit it off right away at the networking event.”
Other Ways to Say: Instant connection / Immediate friendship
18. Build bridges
Meaning: To improve relationships or make peace between people
In a Sentence:
– “After years apart, they’re finally trying to build bridges.”
– “Friendship can help build bridges even after arguments.”
Other Ways to Say: Reconnect / Mend relationships
19. Be there for someone
Meaning: To support someone emotionally or physically when they need help
In a Sentence:
– “No matter what, she’s always there for me.”
– “He promised to be there for his friend during tough times.”
Other Ways to Say: Offer support / Stand by someone
20. Circle of friends
Meaning: A group of close friends
In a Sentence:
– “She has a small but strong circle of friends.”
– “His circle of friends is full of creative people.”
Other Ways to Say: Friendship group / Social circle
21. Bosom buddy
Meaning: A very close and trusted friend
In a Sentence:
– “We’ve been bosom buddies since second grade.”
– “She’s more than a friend—she’s my bosom buddy.”
Other Ways to Say: Best friend / Closest companion
22. Be thick with someone
Meaning: To be very friendly or close with someone
In a Sentence:
– “He’s thick with the coach, so he always gets picked first.”
– “They’ve been thick with each other since college.”
Other Ways to Say: Very close / Well-connected
23. Old friend
Meaning: A friend you’ve known for a long time
In a Sentence:
– “I bumped into an old friend from high school today.”
– “Old friends are like family you choose.”
Other Ways to Say: Longtime companion / Familiar friend
24. Friends for life
Meaning: Friends who will stay close forever
In a Sentence:
– “We promised to be friends for life, no matter where we go.”
– “Some friendships are so strong, they become friends for life.”
Other Ways to Say: Lifelong friends / Permanent bond
Practice Exercise
Fill in the blanks using the correct idiom from the list:
- Even though we argue sometimes, we’ve stuck together __________.
- They met just last month but are already __________.
- I was going through a hard time, and she became my __________.
- He only calls when he needs something—definitely a __________ friend.
- We haven’t spoken in years, but maybe it’s time to __________ and reconnect.
- We’re not related, but he’s __________ to me.
Answer Key
- through thick and thin
- thick as thieves
- shoulder to cry on
- fair-weather
- bury the hatchet
- like family
Conclusion
Friendship isn’t just about shared laughs—it’s also about loyalty, support, and growth. These 24 idioms for friendship help capture the many forms that friendships take, from childhood bonds to lifelong connections, from instant chemistry to rebuilding after conflict.
By using these idioms, you can talk about your friends and relationships in a way that’s not only natural but also emotionally rich and expressive. So the next time you’re describing someone who always has your back—or someone who’s like a sibling—try using one of these idioms to say it with heart.
