Friendship is a vital part of our lives, providing support, joy, and companionship. To better understand and express the nuances of these relationships, it’s helpful to learn specific idioms and phrasal verbs related to friendship. Here are 20 expressions that will enrich your vocabulary and enhance your communication about friendships.
1. A shoulder to cry on
Meaning: Someone who listens
Example: She’s always been a shoulder to cry on.
2. Hit it off
Meaning: Get along well
Example: They hit it off right from the start.
3. Fair-weather friend
Meaning: A friend only in good times
Example: He turned out to be a fair-weather friend.
4. Thick as thieves
Meaning: Very close friends
Example: Those two are thick as thieves.
5. Make friends with
Meaning: Become friends
Example: She quickly made friends with her new neighbors.
6. Get along with
Meaning: Have a good relationship
Example: I get along with my coworkers well.
7. Close-knit
Meaning: Very close
Example: They are a close-knit group of friends.
8. Be there for
Meaning: Support someone
Example: I’ll always be there for you.
9. Hang out with
Meaning: Spend time with
Example: We love to hang out with our friends.
10. See eye to eye
Meaning: Agree completely
Example: They don’t always see eye to eye on politics.
11. Break the ice
Meaning: Start a conversation
Example: A good joke can break the ice.
12. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: Be exactly right
Example: You hit the nail on the head with that advice.
13. Know someone inside out
Meaning: Know very well
Example: I know my best friend inside out.
14. Stick together
Meaning: Stay close and support
Example: True friends stick together through thick and thin.
15. Patch things up
Meaning: Resolve a conflict
Example: They managed to patch things up after the argument.
16. Get on like a house on fire
Meaning: Get along very well
Example: They get on like a house on fire.
17. Be in someone’s good books
Meaning: Be liked by someone
Example: I want to be in the boss’s good books.
18. Cast away
Meaning: Abandon
Example: He felt cast away by his friends.
19. Drift apart
Meaning: Slowly become less close
Example: We started to drift apart after high school.
20. Go way back
Meaning: Have known each other for a long time
Example: We go way back to kindergarten.
