friend (redirected from friends)

*friends with someone

a friend of someone. (*Typically: be ~; become ~.) Sally is friends with Bill. Mary and Bill are friends with one another.

(Even) the best of friends must part.

Prov. Even very good friends cannot stay together forever. Child: I don't want Debby to move away. She's my best friend. Mother: Sometimes the best of friends must part, honey, even if they don't want to.

See also: best, must, part

Any friend of someone('s) (is a friend of mine).

Cliché. I am always pleased to meet a friend of someone I know. (A pleasant response when meeting or being introduced to a friend of a friend.) Fred: Well, nice to meet you, Tom. Any friend of my brother is a friend of mine. Tom: Thanks, Fred. Nice to meet you too. John: Thank you so much for helping me find Sue's address. Sally: You're welcome. Any friend of Sue's.

See also: any

fair-weather friend

Fig. someone who is your friend only when things are pleasant or going well for you. Bill stayed for lunch but he wouldn't help me with the yard work. He's just a fair-weather friend. A fair-weather friend isn't much help in an emergency.

fast friends

good, loyal friends. The two of them had been fast friends since college.

See also: fast

friend in need is a friend indeed

A true friend is a person who will help you when you really need help. When Bill helped me with geometry, I really learned the meaning of "A friend in need is a friend indeed."

See also: indeed, need

friend or foe

a friend or an enemy. I can't tell whether Jim is friend or foe. "Who goes there? Friend or foe?" asked the sentry.

He that hath a full purse never wanted a friend.

Prov. A rich person always has plenty of friends. Jill: Ever since Joe won the lottery, he's been getting congratulations from friends and relatives he hasn't heard from in years. Jane: You know how it is. He that hath a full purse never wanted a friend.

See also: full, hath, never, purse, want

I was up all night with a sick friend.

an unlikely, but popular excuse for not being where one was supposed to be the night before. Bill: Where in the world were you last night? Mary: Well, I was up all night with a sick friend. Mr. Franklin said rather sheepishly, "Would you believe I was up with a sick friend?"

See also: night, sick, up, was

Lend your money and lose your friend.

Prov. You should not lend money to your friends; if you do, either you will have to bother your friend to repay the loan, which will make your friend resent you, or your friend will not repay the loan, which will make you resent your friend. Bill: Joe needs a hundred dollars to pay his landlord. I'm thinking about lending it to him. Alan: Lend your money and lose your friend.

See also: and, lend, lose, money

make a friend and make friends

to establish a link of friendship with someone. I have never found it difficult to make friends. Mary had to make new friends when she changed schools.

See also: make

make friends with someone

to work to become a friend of someone. I want to make friends with all the people I am going to be working with. Let's try to make friends with each other.

See also: make

man's best friend

Fig. a dog; dogs in general. Man's best friend just peed all over my shoes!

See also: best

Short reckonings make long friends.

Prov. If you borrow something from a friend, pay it back as soon as possible so that the two of you remain friendly. Now that you've finished using Bert's saw, take it right back to him. Short reckonings make long friends.

See also: long, make, reckoning, short

Who's your friend?

Sl. Who is that following along behind you? John: Hi, Tom. Who's your friend? Tom: Oh, this is my little brother, Willie. John: Hi, Willie. Looking at the little dog almost glued to Bob's pants cuff, Sally asked, "Who's your friend?"

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a fair-weather friend

someone who is only your friend when you are happy and successful I had a lot of money and I knew a lot of people, but most of them turned out to be fair-weather friends.

A friend in need (is a friend indeed).

something that you say which means that someone who gives you help when you need it is a really good friend She looked after my dogs while I was in hospital. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

See also: need

have friends in high places

to know important people who can help you get what you want He has plenty of friends in high places willing to support his political career.

See also: have, high, place

man's best friend

a dog A study of man's best friend shows that the relationship between humans and dogs started 100,000 years ago.

See also: best

With friends like that, who needs enemies?  (humorous)

something that you say when someone you thought was your friend treats you in an unpleasant way He told my girlfriend I was boring. With friends like that, who needs enemies!

See also: like, needs, who

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friends in high places

important people whom you can ask for support and help in getting what you want If you want to get to see the mayor, it helps to have friends in high places.

See also: high, place