Idioms for Friendship: 13 Idioms About Friends and What They Mean
One of the most-loved idioms for friendship is thick as thieves. An idiom is a common expression whose meaning differs from the meaning of its single words. When a teacher says two students are “thick as thieves,” nobody is stealing anything — she means they are very close friends who tell each other everything.
English has many idioms for friendship like this. Some use peas, houses, and radio waves; others talk about loyalty, tears, and bad weather. Each one paints a clear picture of trust, support, or a friend who disappears.
This guide collects 13 real idioms for friendship. You will learn what each one means, see an example sentence, and learn which ones are safe in school essays. Famous proverbs like “a friend in need is a friend indeed” appear too — in their own marked section, because a proverb is not an idiom.
Why Idioms for Friendship Matter
Students and teachers meet friendship idioms in stories, films, songs, and daily talk. A boy who says “we go way back” is not walking anywhere — he means he has known his friend for years. Knowing this figurative language helps students understand real English fast.
Writers and ESL learners use these idioms to sound natural and warm. Plain words can say “very close friend,” but an idiom adds a picture and a feeling: two peas for sameness, a shoulder for comfort, fair weather for a friend who vanishes in hard times.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a fixed group of words with a special meaning you cannot guess from the words alone — “hit it off” means liking a new person at once, not hitting anything.
Many friendship idioms come from daily life — food, weather, houses, and the body — and picture people who stay close and understand each other without many words.
Idioms About Very Close Friends
These idioms describe close friends — people who are almost never apart.
Thick as Thieves
To be thick as thieves means to be very close friends who share secrets and tell each other everything. A warm, informal idiom — “thieves” is a joke, not an accusation. Example: Since the first day of school, Lena and Omar have been thick as thieves.
Bosom Buddies
A bosom buddy is a very close, dear friend you tell your private thoughts to. The older form is “bosom friend” — “bosom” is an old word for the chest, where feelings live. Example: Priya is my bosom buddy — there is nothing I cannot tell her.
Joined at the Hip
To be joined at the hip means to be inseparable: two friends who spend almost all their time together. A playful idiom from American speech. Example: Ben and Sam are joined at the hip; you never see one without the other.
Like Two Peas in a Pod
To be like two peas in a pod means to be very similar in looks, tastes, or character, like two peas inside one pod. Often used for close friends or siblings who seem almost the same person. Example: The twin sisters are like two peas in a pod — same jokes, same music, same dreams.
Go Way Back
To go way back means to have known someone for a very long time, often since childhood. A friendly idiom about long friendships. Example: Don’t worry about introducing us — Rosa and I go way back; we met in kindergarten.
Idioms About Loyalty and Support
These idioms are about loyalty — staying, helping, and comforting when life is hard.
Through Thick and Thin
To stand by someone through thick and thin means to stay loyal and supportive in good times and bad times. The classic loyalty idiom, safe in essays and speeches. Example: The two friends stood by each other through thick and thin for thirty years.
A Shoulder to Cry On
A shoulder to cry on is a person who listens to your problems and gives you sympathy and comfort when you are sad. A kind idiom about emotional support — not a real shoulder. Example: When my grandfather died, my best friend was a shoulder to cry on.
Stick Together
To stick together means to stay together and support and help each other, especially in difficult times. A friendly everyday expression: friends act like glue for each other. Example: The class decided to stick together and help the new student learn the language.
Idioms About Getting Along and Thinking Alike
These idioms describe the happy start of a friendship and the easy understanding between friends.
Hit It Off
To hit it off means to like someone and become friendly immediately, at the first meeting. An informal idiom about the first spark of friendship. Example: I met Hana at the bus stop, and we hit it off at once.
Get Along Like a House on Fire
To get along like a house on fire means to become friends very quickly and love each other’s company. British speakers often say “get on like a house on fire.” Example: The new neighbours got along like a house on fire — by evening, they were cooking dinner together.
On the Same Wavelength
To be on the same wavelength means to think in a similar way and understand each other easily. The picture comes from radio: two radios on one wavelength hear each other clearly. Example: Maya and I are on the same wavelength — we finish each other’s sentences.
Speak the Same Language
To speak the same language means, in the figurative sense, to share the same ideas and values, so you understand each other well. It is not about real languages like English or Arabic. Example: The two young teachers speak the same language about games, music, and fair rules.
The Opposite: A Friend Who Disappears
Not every friendship idiom is kind. This one is a warning.
Fair-Weather Friend
A fair-weather friend is a good friend only when life is easy, and stops being one when you have problems. A disapproving idiom: like sunny weather, this friend disappears when the rain comes. Example: When Ali lost his job, his fair-weather friends stopped calling — but his true friends stayed.
Famous Proverbs About Friendship
Some famous friendship sayings are not idioms at all — they are proverbs: traditional sayings that state a truth in plain words. They belong here, in their own section, not counted above.
A Friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed
A friend in need is a friend indeed teaches that a friend who helps you when you really need help is a true friend. The idea is ancient — Greek and Roman writers said it thousands of years ago. Example: Everyone left the party early, but Sara stayed to help me clean — a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Birds of a Feather Flock Together
Birds of a feather flock together teaches that people of similar character and interests find each other and become companions. It can be praise or gentle criticism, depending on the group. Example: All the young painters in our town eat lunch together — birds of a feather flock together.
Idioms for Friendship at a Glance
| Idiom | Simple Meaning | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Thick as thieves | Very close friends who share secrets | Close friends |
| Bosom buddies | Very dear, trusted close friends | Best friends |
| Joined at the hip | Inseparable, always together | Friends who never part |
| Like two peas in a pod | Very similar in looks or character | Alike friends, twins |
| Go way back | Known each other for a very long time | Old friendships |
| Through thick and thin | Loyal in good and bad times | Loyalty, long support |
| A shoulder to cry on | A person who listens and comforts | Sad times, comfort |
| Stick together | Stay together and help each other | Groups, hard times |
| Hit it off | Become friendly immediately | First meetings |
| Get along like a house on fire | Become close friends very quickly | New friendships |
| On the same wavelength | Think alike, understand easily | Easy understanding |
| Speak the same language | Share the same ideas and values | Shared thinking |
| Fair-weather friend | A friend only in good times | Warning, disapproval |
How to Use Friendship Idioms in Writing and Speaking
- Match the idiom to the friendship. Very close friends: “thick as thieves.” A brand-new friend: “hit it off.” A friend of twenty years: “go way back” or “through thick and thin.”
- Use the kind ones for praise, and the warning one with care. “Bosom buddy” and “a shoulder to cry on” are warm compliments. “Fair-weather friend” is a criticism — do not use it as praise.
- Choose safe idioms for school essays. “Through thick and thin” is polite and safe everywhere; “joined at the hip” and “bosom buddies” are informal, so save them for friendly writing.
- Learn each idiom as a whole phrase. Never translate an idiom word for word — the translation usually makes no sense.
- Use one idiom at a time. One clear idiom is stronger than three in a single sentence.
Expressions That Are Not Really Friendship Idioms
Some famous expressions sit near friendship but do not belong in the list above. “Blood is thicker than water” is a proverb about family, not friends: it teaches that family ties are stronger than any other relationship — it puts family above friendship. “Best friends forever” and its short form BFF are modern slang from texts and social media — a friendly label, not a fixed idiom with a hidden meaning. And to be “as good as your word” is about honesty — keeping promises — not about friendship itself.
Idioms are only one part of lively English. Shorten a famous place name with the abbreviation for Brooklyn guide, then smell the roses with the idioms for flowers collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “thick as thieves” mean?
It means very close friends who share secrets and tell each other everything. It is informal and friendly — the word “thieves” is a joke, not an accusation.
What does “through thick and thin” mean?
It means staying loyal to someone in good times and bad times, for a long time — like friends who support each other for thirty years.
What is a fair-weather friend?
A fair-weather friend is a person who is friendly only when life is easy and disappears when you have problems. It is disapproving — a warning, not a compliment.
Is “a friend in need is a friend indeed” an idiom?
No — it is a proverb: a traditional saying that states a truth in plain words. An idiom’s meaning is hidden and figurative.
Can I use friendship idioms in a school essay?
Yes — “through thick and thin” is safe and polite in essays. Save informal ones like “joined at the hip” and “bosom buddies” for friendly writing and speaking.
Conclusion
You now have 13 friendship idioms, from old friends who go way back to new friends who hit it off at once. Each one turns a picture — peas in a pod, a shoulder, a sunny day — into a clear meaning about the people closest to us.
Practise with one idiom at a time: learn it as a whole phrase and use it in a sentence about a real friend. To explore why humans need close companions at all, read the encyclopedia article on friendship and how it shapes our lives.
