Idioms About Friendships

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch

Friendships are like a good cup of coffee—warm, essential, and sometimes a little bit complex. While saying "we're really close" gets the job done, English offers a much more colorful palette to describe our social circles. Idioms especially add a layer of personality that plain words sometimes miss.  Let's dive into the phrases that are used to talk about the people who make life a lot more interesting.

1. Two peas in a pod

• Meaning: Two people who are very similar in looks, personality, or interests.
• Origin: In a real pea pod, the seeds are almost identical in size and shape, making them hard to tell apart from each another.
• Examples: 
  • It’s no wonder they started a business together; they are like two peas in a pod when it comes to their work ethic.
  • My twin brother and I are like two peas in a pod; we even have the same laugh.

2. Like a house on fire

• Meaning: To get along with someone incredibly well and very quickly.
• Origin: This refers to how fast a fire can consume a wooden house. When you hit it off with someone that fast, the connection is "burning" bright.
• Examples: 
  • I was nervous about the blind date, but we got on like a house on fire.
  • Even though they just met yesterday, the two neighbors are chatting like a house on fire over the fence.

3. Thick as thieves

• Meaning: Very close friends who share secrets and are intensely loyal to one another. 
• Note: While "thick as thieves" is a compliment today, it originally carried a slightly negative connotation of being "suspiciously" close. Now, it’s just a sweet way to describe a bestie!
• Origin: Dating back to the 1800s, this phrase suggests that criminals (thieves) must be exceptionally close and therefore conspire with each other to successfully pull off a crime without getting caught.
• Examples: 
  • Ever since they went to summer camp together, those two have been thick as thieves.
  • You can’t tell one of them a secret without the other finding out; they’re thick as thieves.

4. Birds of a feather

• Meaning: People who have similar characters, backgrounds, or interests and stay together.
• Origin: From the old proverb "Birds of a feather flock together," noting that birds of the same kind tend to fly in the same group.
• Examples: 
  • The entire engineering department always eats lunch together--birds of a feather, I suppose.
  • They both love vintage records and obscure films, proving that birds of a feather flock together.

5. A shoulder to cry on

• Meaning: Someone who listens to your problems and provides emotional support during a difficult time.
• Origin: This comes from the physical action of leaning your head on a friend’s shoulder while crying, symbolizing comfort in times of distress.
• Examples: 
  • I’m so grateful for Martha; she was a shoulder to cry on after I lost my job
  • You don't need to give me advice; I just need a shoulder to cry on right now.

6. Fair-weather friend

• Meaning: A person who is a friend only when things are going well, but disappears when you have trouble.
• Origin: Sailing and the weather. Just as a ship is easy to sail in "fair weather," some friends are only around when life is "sunny" and easy.
• Examples: 
  • When I was rich, I had dozens of friends, but they turned out to be fair-weather friends once the money ran out.
  • I thought we were close, but his refusal to help me showed he’s just a fair-weather friend.

I hope this list helps you add a little extra "flavor" to your English! Idioms might feel a bit strange at first, but they are a fantastic way to sound more natural and friendly when you speak. Why not pick your favorite one and try using it today? Ask a teacher or a proficient English-speaking friend for feedback if you used it correctly. Keep practicing, and these phrases will become so naturally familiar before you know it!