Friendship phrases and words in English

The real language of friendship — loyalty, falling-outs, inside jokes, and the people who stay for decades. Go far beyond 'good friend' and talk like someone who actually has a social life.

26 phrases · meanings & example sentences

“Ride or die”

Someone so loyal they'll back you through anything — originally biker slang, now used for any person you're unconditionally committed to. Strong, affectionate, and very current.

She's my ride or die — she drove three hours just to sit with me in hospital
Every team needs a ride or die who'll answer the phone at midnight
We've been ride or die since the first week of uni

“We go way back”

A warm way to say you've known someone for a very long time. 'Way back' stretches the distance into the past. Perfect for introducing an old friend or explaining a deep bond.

Me and Tom go way back — we were in nursery together
They go way back, that's why they can tease each other so much
Trust him — we go way back, he's never let me down

“Have someone's back”

To protect, support, and defend someone — especially when they're not around or under pressure. The image is guarding the side they can't see. Used in personal, professional, and any loyalty context.

Don't worry about the meeting — I've got your back in there
Real friends have your back even when you're being an idiot
She always had my back at school when people picked on me

“Third wheel”

The extra person alongside a couple, feeling a bit out of place — like a useless third wheel on a bicycle. Used jokingly and self-deprecatingly. Can describe anyone who's the odd one out in a pair.

You two go ahead — I don't want to be the third wheel all night
When your friends couple up, suddenly you're the third wheel on every plan
I feel like a third wheel in these meetings — it's clearly a two-person project

“Hit it off”

To like each other instantly and get along brilliantly from the very first meeting. The 'it' is the chemistry between people. Works for friendships, dates, and even first business introductions.

We hit it off straight away and talked for four hours
I was nervous to meet his parents but we totally hit it off
They didn't hit it off at first, but now they're inseparable

“Drift apart”

To slowly, often unintentionally, grow less close — no big fight, just time and distance pulling you in different directions. Bittersweet and very relatable in any long-term relationship.

We didn't fall out, we just drifted apart after she moved away
It's normal for school friends to drift apart in your twenties
I don't want us to drift apart — let's actually plan to meet up

To maintain regular contact with someone after a change — moving city, switching jobs, finishing a shared chapter. Often said as farewell. Whether it's a sincere promise or polite habit depends on who's saying it.

Keep in touch — I want to hear how the new job goes
We said we'd keep in touch after graduation but it's been three years
I try to keep in touch with my family even when life gets hectic

“Bury the hatchet”

To make peace and end a quarrel — from a Native American custom of literally burying a weapon to mark the end of hostilities. Use it when two parties finally let go of a grudge.

The brothers finally buried the hatchet at their mum's birthday
Come on, it's been years — isn't it time you two buried the hatchet?
We buried the hatchet over a coffee and never mentioned it again

“Frenemy”

A blend of 'friend' and 'enemy' — someone you're outwardly friendly with but secretly compete with or resent. A modern word for a slightly toxic relationship most people recognise instantly.

She's more of a frenemy — she compliments my outfit then copies it
Every office has frenemies who smile to your face in meetings
They've been frenemies since high school: all rivalry and brunch

“Through thick and thin”

Staying loyal through good times and bad — 'thick' meaning the hard times, 'thin' the lean ones. A classic idiom for any relationship or commitment that has weathered everything.

They've stuck together through thick and thin for thirty years
A real friend stays through thick and thin, not just the fun parts
Our team has been through thick and thin — two layoffs and a full pivot

“Ghost someone”

To suddenly cut off all contact with no warning or explanation — texts unanswered, calls ignored, as if you vanished. Originally from dating culture, now used for any relationship. The noun is 'ghosting'.

She ghosted me after the second date — no message, nothing
Don't ghost your old work contacts — you never know when you'll need them
My gym buddy just ghosted me, I have no idea if they quit

“Cold shoulder”

Deliberate icy distance given to someone as rejection or quiet punishment — not a confrontation, just pointed silence and avoidance. The full form is 'give someone the cold shoulder'. Works in any relationship.

She gave me the cold shoulder all week after I missed her birthday
If he keeps interrupting, just give him the cold shoulder
I walked into the office and the whole team was giving me the cold shoulder — no idea why

“Fall out”

To have an argument serious enough to damage or end a relationship — not one small fight but the kind that leaves a lasting chill. You 'fall out with' someone; the aftermath is a 'falling-out'.

We had a massive falling-out over money and didn't speak for a year
I've fallen out with my flatmate over the dishes — it's so awkward
Those two politicians fell out badly but ended up back on the same side

“Inside joke”

A joke or reference only understood by people who shared the original moment — outsiders get nothing, insiders can't stop laughing. A signal of shared history and real closeness. Also called an 'in-joke'.

They kept laughing at something — an inside joke from their road trip last year
If you weren't there for the story, the inside joke will never land
Our whole team has an inside joke that started from one terrible Zoom call

“No hard feelings”

Said after a conflict, rejection, or disappointment — meaning no lasting resentment. Signals you're not bitter even when things didn't go your way. Can be genuine or slightly passive-aggressive in tone.

I hope there are no hard feelings about not getting the job
We broke up but kept it civil — no hard feelings on either side
No hard feelings if you can't make it — I know it's a busy weekend

“Fair-weather friend”

Someone who's only around during good times but disappears when things get hard — like weather that never lasts. A pointed phrase for identifying unreliable people in your life.

When I lost my job I found out who was a fair-weather friend real quick
He's great fun at parties but a total fair-weather friend when you actually need support
Don't count on fair-weather colleagues — they vanish the moment the project goes badly

“Let someone down”

To disappoint someone who was counting on you — deflating their trust or expectations. 'Don't let me down' is one of the most common phrases in English. Gentler than 'betray', but can sting just as much.

I don't want to let you down — I just need more time to do this properly
He let the whole team down by going silent the week of the deadline
It's not the mistake that hurt, it's feeling let down by someone you trusted

“Thick as thieves”

Describes two or more people who are extremely close and secretive together — so tight-knit they seem to share everything. Originally implied a suspicious closeness; now mostly affectionate.

Those two are thick as thieves — they finish each other's sentences
The whole group was thick as thieves by the end of the trip
The interns got thick as thieves after surviving that impossible deadline together

“Clear the air”

To openly discuss a problem or tension so that negative feelings are resolved — like removing smoke from a room. Used any time a difficult but necessary conversation is needed.

Let's clear the air before this gets worse — what's actually bothering you?
She cleared the air with her parents about why she'd moved out so suddenly
The manager called a meeting just to clear the air after the argument

“Patch things up”

To repair a relationship or resolve a disagreement — like patching a hole in something torn. Implies the relationship was damaged but is worth fixing. More casual than 'reconcile'.

We patched things up over dinner and agreed to move on
I'm trying to patch things up with my sister but she's still not picking up
After the product launch fiasco, the two teams had to patch things up quickly

“Birds of a feather”

Short for 'birds of a feather flock together' — similar people naturally gravitate toward each other. Used to explain why certain people click, or to point out a shared trait two people may not see in themselves.

Of course they became best friends — birds of a feather
Birds of a feather flock together, which is why that whole group thinks the same way
It's no surprise they cofounded a startup — birds of a feather

“Two peas in a pod”

Two people so similar they might as well have grown from the same pod. Used affectionately for pairs who share the same habits, humour, or outlook — sometimes as a tease about how inseparable they are.

Those two are like two peas in a pod — they even finish each other's sentences
My brother and I were two peas in a pod growing up, always getting into trouble together
The two investors are two peas in a pod — they never seem to disagree on anything

“Partner in crime”

A playful term for someone you team up with for adventures, mischief, or any joint project. No actual crime needed — the phrase signals a fun, conspiratorial closeness. Entirely affectionate.

She's my partner in crime — we planned the whole office prank together
Looking for a partner in crime for a spontaneous weekend road trip
My brother was always my partner in crime growing up — we were unstoppable

“Catch up”

To reconnect with someone after a gap and exchange news. 'Let's catch up' is one of the most common social invitations in English — the idea is closing the information gap that time created.

We haven't spoken in months — we really need to catch up
I bumped into an old colleague today and we caught up over coffee
I'm calling to catch up — what have you been up to lately?

“Benefit of the doubt”

The charitable assumption that someone acted with good intentions, even when you're unsure. 'Giving someone the benefit of the doubt' means not jumping to the worst conclusion before you have all the facts.

She was late again, but I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt — could be traffic
Give new team members the benefit of the doubt before writing them off
I gave him the benefit of the doubt once, and he let me down again

“Let bygones be bygones”

To stop holding onto old grievances and make peace with the past. Often used as a call to forgiveness or a fresh start. 'Bygones' is an old word for things that have already happened.

I know you're still upset, but can we let bygones be bygones and start fresh?
They never let bygones be bygones — they rehashed the same argument for years
Sometimes in business you have to let bygones be bygones and preserve the relationship