Sayings about friends in English with translation. Friendship Phrases and How to Use Them in English

both teach us to value true friends and warn us against distrusting people unnecessarily. We can understand who is our friend or foe only when faced with life's difficulties. English proverbs about friendship you need to know, since friendship takes a very important place in the life of both children and adults. That is why proverbs about friendship in english very popular, they can be found both in children's fairy tales and cartoons, and in serious works.

Using in your speech English proverbs and sayings about friendship you will be able to show your interlocutors that you understand people and know how to value sincere friendship. As well as English proverbs about friendship with translation you need to know well as they are often used in literary works, films and serials.

A broken friendship may be soldered, but will never be sound.
Translation: A cracked friendship can be glued, but it will never be lasting.
Russian analogue: A peaceful friend is unreliable.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Translation: A friend in need is a real friend.
Russian counterparts:
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
You will recognize a horse in rati, a friend in trouble.
A friend is known in adversity.

A friend is never known till needed.
Translation: You don't recognize a friend until you need his help.
Russian counterparts:
An untried friend is unreliable.
You will not get to know your friend without trouble.

A friend to all is a friend to none.
Translation: One who is friend to everyone is not friend to anyone.
Russian counterparts:
A brother to everyone is not a brother to anyone.
There are many friends, but no friend.
And a lot of friends, but no boyfriend.

A friend "s frown is better than a foe" s smile.
Translation: Better a scowl of a friend than a smile of an enemy.
Russian counterparts:
Better the bitter truth of a friend than the flattery of the enemy.
The enemy agrees, but the friend argues.

A Joke never gains an enemy but often loses a friend.
Translation: You can't appease your enemy with a joke, but you can push your friend away.
Russian counterparts:
Just joke, but be careful, otherwise you can get into trouble.
Just kidding, but people are not muddied.
Just kidding, but look around.

A man is known by the company he keeps.
Translation: A person is recognized by his friends.
Russian counterparts:
Tell me who your friend is and I will tell you who you are.
With whom you carry bread - salt, you are like that.

All are not friends that speak us fair.
Translation: Not everyone is a friend who praises us.
Russian analogue: Do not trust every friend.

Before you make a friend eat a bushel of salt with him.
Translation: Before you make friends with a person, eat a bushel of salt with him.
Russian counterparts:
Do not recognize a friend in three days, recognize in three years.
You recognize a person when you eat a pound of salt with him.
You will recognize a person by eating cabbage soup out of seven stoves with him.

Better an open enemy than a false friend.
Translation: Better to have an obvious enemy than a hypocritical friend.
Russian analogue: Not the dog that bites, but the one that is silent and wags its tail.

Better be alone than in bad company.
Translation: Better to be alone than in bad company.
Russian analogue: Be friends with the good, but keep away from the evil.

Better lose a jest than a friend.
Translation: Better to refrain from joking than to lose a friend.
Russian counterparts:
Do not joke with such a joke, who is sensitive to every word.
Do not joke about what is dear to another.

Even reckoning makes long friends.
Translation: Settling scores strengthens friendships.
Russian counterparts:
Counting friendship is not a hindrance.
Friendship does not spoil the score.
More often counting - stronger friendship.
Scoring more often - friendship is sweeter.

False friends are worse than open enemies.
Translation: Fake friends are worse than outright enemies.
Russian analogue: A friend for the time being is worse than an enemy.

Not that has a full purse never wanted a friend.
Translation: Whoever has a full purse has enough friends.
Russian analogue: To whom happiness is friends, so are people.

Old friends and old wine are best.
Translation: There is nothing better than old friends and old wine.
Russian analogue: A thing is good while it is new, and a friend is when it is old.

Prosperity makes friends, and adversity tries them.
Translation: Prosperity gathers friends around, and unhappiness tests their friendship.
Russian counterparts:
A friend is known in case of ratification and in case of trouble.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Short debts (accounts) make long friends.
Translation: Shorter duty - stronger friendship.
Russian counterparts:
More often the account is the stronger friendship.
Does not lose the friendship account (does not spoil).
Counting friendship is not a hindrance.

Not is a good friend that speaks well of us behind our backs.
Translation: That good friend who speaks good about us behind our backs.
Russian analogue: A good friend scolds in the face, but praises for the eyes.

Nothing reflects the spirit and culture of the people as vividly and accurately as the language. But it is the proverbs that are the true embodiment of the values, priorities, tastes, relationships, moral attitudes of the people, moreover, expressed in a capacious, figurative and aphoristic way.

We are opening a new section of our blog, which will present thematic collections of original English proverbs with their literal translation, analogues in Russian and the history of their origin.

It is necessary to know proverbs because they are so firmly entrenched in the national character and have become so integral part of the language that in everyday communication today they are rarely used in full form: usually it is enough to pronounce only part of the proverb to express your attitude to the situation or accurately describe it. Humor, sarcasm can be built on this, such a play on words is often used in the headlines of the media, so you risk not understanding what the whole “salt” is, not knowing the original expression.

In addition, the sayings reflect the national attitude towards such fundamental life concepts as family, health or wealth. Today we will focus on another fundamental element of life - friendship.

• Birds of a feather flock together.

Literal translation: Birds of the same color gather in flocks.

Analogue in Russian: A fisherman sees a fisherman from afar, one field is a berry, the suit matches the suit

Meaning: The proverb came to English from Saudi Arabia and has been used since the 16th century when it is necessary to emphasize that people tend to establish new contacts and look for friends with the same cultural, social, economic status, similar character traits, similar tastes, views and interests.

• There is no better looking-glass than an old friend.

• The eye of a friend is a good mirror.

Literal translation: There is no better mirror than a loyal friend.

Meaning: A person who has known you for a long time and went through "through thick and through thin" - fire and water with you, can usually give a more objective assessment of your behavior. We agree that

• All are not friends that speak us fair.

Literal translation: All who flatter us are not true friends.

Analogue in Russian: A friend argues, but an enemy agrees.

Meaning: Friends are able to impartially point out your strengths and weaknesses, and fairly point out your weaknesses and strengths. Although even in "friendly" criticism, you need to be careful and not come to outright ridicule. The British would then add:

• Better lose a jest than a friend.

Literal translation: Better to keep the edge than to lose a friend.

Meaning: Even the closest friends can be offended by an inappropriate joke or an evil prank, especially if they were put in an awkward or stupid position by a person whom they trusted. Unfortunately, we have to admit that

• Familiarity breeds contempt.

Literal translation: Close acquaintance breeds contempt.

Analogue in Russian: The more you know, the less you value.

Meaning: When a friendship is just beginning, a new acquaintance seems like an amazing, mysterious and interesting person. As you learn more about a person, come across his peculiarities and shortcomings, the initial admiration can be replaced by disappointment, impudence and neglect. What is called,

• No longer pipe, no longer dance.

Literal translation: The music ended, and the dancing ended.

Analogue in Russian: He outlived his need, forgot his friendship. Tablecloth from the table, friends from the yard.

• When good cheer is lacking, our friends will be packing.

Analogue in Russian:

Meaning: When friendships no longer bring joy or benefits, many decide to end the relationship, but they invariably regret the lost friendship afterwards. However, even if the friend agrees to rekindle the friendship, the following proverbs come to mind:

• Patched up friendship seldom becomes whole again.

Literal translation: A ditched friendship will not be whole.

• Reconciled friendship is a wound ill salved.

Literal translation: Friendship after reconciliation is an unhealed wound.

Analogue in Russian: A laid-back friend is unreliable.

Meaning: Having once experienced the betrayal of a friend, it is difficult to get rid of wariness and resentment. Moreover, a person who has already abused trust once can take such a step again, making friendship even more shaky. In such cases, they usually say:

• A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.

Literal translation: A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.

Analogue in Russian: Where it is thin, there it breaks.

Meaning: If there is already some coldness between friends, the gap can occur at any time and for the most insignificant reason. Some people, whose friends acted unworthily and treacherously, finally lose faith in true friendship and decide to look for friends only from a position of personal gain, because it is not for nothing

• A friend in the court is better than a penny in the purse.

Literal translation: Better to have a friend in court than a coin in your wallet.

Analogue in Russian: Don't have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends. What are the laws to me, if the judges are familiar.

Meaning: The proverb was borrowed by English authors of the 14th century. from the writings of Cicero as evidence that sometimes the necessary connections, and not financial investments, help in solving the problem. The British often use a more modern saying:

• It "s good to have some friends both in heaven and hell.

Literal translation: It's good to have friends in both heaven and hell.

Analogue in Russian: Connections are everything.

Meaning:“The right” friends can come in handy in career advancement, and even in case of problems with the law. However, please be aware that

• The friendship of the great is fraternity with lions.

Literal translation: Being friends with an influential person is like being friends with a lion.

• The friendship of a great man is like the shadow of a bush soon gone.

Literal translation: The friendship of the powerful of this world is fleeting, like a shadow.

Meaning: Even having enlisted the support of a person with connections and influence, one cannot be completely sure of his favor and loyalty, because the favorites change quickly and mercilessly. So be more careful in choosing your friends, especially since

• A man is known by the company he keeps.

Literal translation: A person is determined by those in whose society he is.

Analogue in Russian: Tell me who your friend is and I will tell who you are.

Meaning: This proverb was originally a quote from the ancient Greek playwright Euripides - "Every man is like the company he is wont to keep", which eventually became simpler and began to universally mean that a person is greatly influenced by his immediate environment. Another saying is dedicated to this:

• If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas.

Literal translation: When falling asleep with dogs, be prepared to wake up flea.

Analogue in Russian: With whom you lead, from that you will gain. To live with wolves is to howl like a wolf.

Meaning: This proverb came into use from the writings of Benjamin Franklin, who in turn borrowed a dictum from Seneca to emphasize that being in “bad company”, you can not only ruin your reputation, but also adopt false values ​​and bad habits from friends.

• A friend to all is a friend to none.

Literal translation: The one who is friends with everyone is not a friend to anyone.

Analogue in Russian: A brother to everyone is not a brother to anyone.

Meaning: This proverb, the birth of which is often mistakenly attributed to Aristotle, means that someone who seems benevolent and friendly to everyone is actually a hypocrite. Such people often surround influential people, which is why the following proverb appeared:

• The rich knows not who is his friend.

Literal translation: The rich don't know who their friends are.

Meaning: A rich man cannot be completely sure that those people whom he calls his friends will not turn away from him if he loses his status and wealth. No wonder they say:

• At heed one sees who his friend is.

• When fortune frowns, friends are few.

Analogue in Russian: Friend is known in trouble. You will recognize a horse in rati, but your friend is in trouble. There is no bread, and there were no friends either.

• Friends are made in wine and proved in tears.

Literal translation: Friendship is born in wine and tested in tears.

• Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them.

Literal translation: Friendship is born in prosperity and tested in unhappiness.

Analogue in Russian: Not the friend who walks at the feast, but the one who helps in trouble.

• In time of prosperity, friends will be plenty; in time of adversity not one in twenty.

Analogue in Russian: In joy they will find, in sorrow they will forget.

Meaning: Loyalty and friendship are really tested by trials, and true friendship is only strengthened from adversity, because

• Suffering for a friend doubleth friendship.

Literal translation: Suffering for a friend doubles the friendship.

Meaning: Together, the "black streak" experienced only strengthens the affection and trust in friendship, and a truly strong friendship is tested over the years. No wonder the following proverb has become international:

• Before you make a friend, eat a bushel / a peck of salt with him.

Literal translation: You recognize a person when you eat a pound of salt with him.

Analogue in Russian: An untested friend - that the nut is not chipped.

Meaning: The British maintain the view that friendship must stand the test of time. That is why many English proverbs reveal the transience of casual dating:

• Friendships are cheap when they can be bought by dropping the hat.

Literal translation: The price of the friendship that suddenly arises is small.

• Friendship is not to be bought at a fair.

Literal translation: You can't bargain for a friend at the fair.

• Sudden friendship, sure repentance.

Literal translation: Swift friendship, inevitable remorse.

Analogue in Russian: A heart friend will not be born suddenly.

Meaning: Friendships that suddenly break out can bring a lot of frustration and problems, especially if money interferes with the friendship. Remember:

• Short debts make long friends.

Literal translation: In short, duty - stronger friendship.

• Friendship and importunate begging feed at the same dish.

Literal translation: Friendship and annoying begging are inextricably linked.

Analogue in Russian: Friendship is friendship, and money / tobacco apart.

Meaning: Even the strongest friendship does not stand the test of money, it is no coincidence that they say: "If you want to lose a friend, give him money in debt." There is another proverb that refers to friendship and money:

• Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.

Literal translation: Friendship is like money; it's easier to acquire it than to keep it.

Meaning: A true friend will become the one with whom you have lived side by side for many years, with whom you have something to remember, something to cry about and something to laugh about. Unwavering loyalty and undeniable loyalty to friends are part of the moral code of the British, which is why many proverbs reflect the value of "lasting friendship":

• Forsake not old friends for new.

• Old tunes are sweetest, old friends are surest.

Analogue in Russian: A thing is good when it is new, and a friend is when it is old. An old friend is better than two new ones.

• Make new friends but keep the old, for one is silver and the other is gold.

Analogue in Russian: Make new friends, but don't lose your old ones.

Cherish your friendship and do not forget that “The way to have a friend is to be one”- "If you want friendship - be a friend."

Friendship occupies one of the most important places in the life of any person, no matter where he is in the world. Perhaps that is why many proverbs about friendship in different languages ​​have a similar meaning, and sometimes they even sound the same.

What are the most popular proverbs about friendship in English, and what are their counterparts in Russian? You can find out this from the table below. If you would like to supplement the table or report inaccuracies, leave a comment on this article, and we will definitely consider your comments and suggestions!

Proverb	Literal translation	Russian analogue (meaning of the proverb)
Old friends and old wine are best.	Old friends and old wine are the best.	An old friend is better than two new ones. A thing is good when it is new, and a friend is when it is old.
A friend to all is a friend to none.	A friend to all - a friend to anyone.	A brother to everyone is not a brother to anyone. There are many friends, but no friend.
A broken friendship may be soldered, but will never be sound.	Broken friendships can be welded, but they will never be lasting.	A laid-back friend is unreliable.
A cracked bell can never sound well.	A cracked bell can never ring well.	A strapped horse, a broken bow, and a peaceful friend are equally unreliable.
A friend "s frown is better than a foe" s smile.	A friend's frown is better than an enemy's smile.	Better the bitter truth of a friend than the flattery of the enemy. The enemy agrees, but the friend argues.
A hedge between keeps friendship green.	The hedge between keeps friendship.	When there is a certain distance between friends, then the friendship is stronger.
A man is known by the company he keeps.	A person is recognized by his company.	Tell me who your friend is and I will tell you who you are. With whom you drive bread and salt, you are like that.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.	A friend in need is a real friend.	Friend is known in trouble.
A friend is never known till needed.	A friend is never known until his help is needed.	An untried friend is unreliable. You will not get to know your friend without trouble.
No longer pipe, no longer dance.	No pipe - no dancing.	He outlived his need, forgot his friendship. Pies from the table, friends from the yard.
A goose is no playmate for a pig.	Goose is not a pig's comrade.	Goose is not a pig's comrade.
Friends are all right when they don "t interfere with your career.	Friends are good as long as they don't interfere with your career.	Friendship is friendship, but service is service.
Lend your money and lose your friend.	Borrow money and lose a friend.	If you want to lose a friend, lend him money. Friendship is friendship, but money apart.
The best mirror is an old friend.		The best mirror is an old friend.
Books and friends should be few but good.	There should be few books and friends, but good ones.	Less is more.
Friendship isn "t a big thing - it" s a million little things.		Friendship is not just one big thing - it's a lot of little things.
The only unsinkable ship is friendSHIP.		Only an unsinkable ship can be called friendship.
Only your real friends tell you when your face is dirty.		Only true friends will tell when your face is dirty.
It is better to be in chains with friends, than to be in a garden with strangers.		Better to be in chains with friends than in the garden with strangers.
Count your age with friends but not with years.		Consider age by friends, not years.

Language with translation will help you express your attitude towards those with whom you communicate in life and simply correspond on social networks. The topic of friendship is understandable and close to everyone, at all times it has excited the minds of not only ordinary people, but also writers and philosophers.

A selection statuses about friendship in English with translation consists not only of beautiful phrases about friendship, but also memorable sayings of great people. It is useful for those who learn English to read and remember statuses in English with translation and then use them to spice up your speech and show your friends how much they mean to you.

A faithful friend is hard to find; remember man and keep in mind.
It is not easy to find a true friend, remember this and remember always.

Friendship isn "t a big thing - it" s a million little things.
Friendship is not just one big thing - it's a lot of little things.

A road to a friend's house is never long.
The road to a friend's house is never long.

Best friends are like fairy tales, they were there for once upon a time and they will be there for happily ever after.
Best friends are like fairy tales, they appear once and stay with you to live happily ever after.

Be gracious to all people in your life, but choose only the best ones to be your friends. (Socrates)
Be kind to all the people in your life, but choose only the best of them as your friends. (Socrates)

Friendship, like phosphorus, shines brightest when all around is dark.
Friendship, like phosphorus, shines brightly when everything is dark around.

One loyal friend is worth ninety nine relatives.
One loyal friend can be more valuable than 99 relatives.

Count your age with friends but not with years.
Consider age by friends, not years.

The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend. (Aristotle)
The antidote against fifty enemies is one friend. (Aristotle)

An honest answer to any question is a real sign of true friendship.
An honest answer to any question is a sure sign of true friendship.

Better a new friend than an old foe.
Better a new friend than an old enemy.

If you look for a friend who has no faults you will find none.
If you are looking for a friend without flaws, then you will not find anyone.

A real friend is someone who knows everything about you, but still loves you. (Elbert Green Hubbard)
A friend is someone who knows everything about you, but still loves you. (Elbert Green Hubbard)

It takes a long time to grow an old friend.
It takes a long time to become an old friend.

Friendship is one mind in two bodies. (Mencius)
Friendship is one mind in two different bodies. (Mencius)

Only your real friends tell you when your face is dirty.
Only true friends will tell you that you have a dirty face.

The best mirror in your life is your old friends.
The best mirror in your life is your old friends.

In prosperity it is not a problem to find a lot of friends; but in adversity nothing is so difficult. (Epictetus)
When you are prosperous, finding many friends is not a problem, but when you are in misfortune, then there is nothing more difficult than finding a friend. (Epictetus)

Friendship is the soul "s heaven.
Friendship is heaven for the soul.

Very often it is easier to forgive an enemy than a best friend. (William Blake)
It is often easier to forgive your enemy than your best friend. (William Blake)

Let friendship creep gently to a height; if it rush to it, it may soon run itself out of breath. (Thomas Fuller)
Let friendship calmly climb to the top. If it flies up there, it may soon wither away. (Thomas Fuller)

A friend is someone who is there for you when he "d rather be anywhere else.
A friend is the one who is here with you, although he needs to be elsewhere.

The best thing I can do for my good friend is to be his good friend.
The best thing I can do for my good friend is to be a good friend to him too.

An honest answer is the sign of true friendship.
An honest answer is a sign of true friendship.

Be gracious to all men, but choose the best to be your friends.
Be kind to all people, but choose the best as your friends.

A friend is, as it were, a second self.
A friend, one might say, is the second me.

A true friend is one who is able to believe in you when you can’t believe in yourself any more.
A true friend is one who is able to believe in you when you yourself can no longer do it.

Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.
A friend is someone who knows everything about you and still loves you.

It is better to be in chains with friends, than to be in a garden with strangers.
Better to be in chains with friends than in a garden with strangers.

A friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself.
A friend is someone who believes in you when you yourself have ceased to believe in yourself.

A good friend is cheaper than therapy.
A good friend is cheaper than a doctor.

Without friends, no one would want to live, even if he had all other goods. (Aristotle)
There is no life without friends, even if there is everything else. (Aristotle)

Friendship is one of the main components of our life. A person cannot live both without love and without friendship. There are countless books, films, sayings, quotes, aphorisms and catch phrases on this topic.

But today we are not talking about that. Today we are looking at basic English phrases and idioms about friendship () and friends (). How to talk about a friend in English? What phrases should you use to describe friend and friendship in general? You will learn all this by reading this article to the end. We hope that you will learn a lot of interesting and useful information for yourself. So let's get started!

First, let's look at those basic phrases and idioms about friendship and friends that will help you describe, characterize your friend, and briefly tell about him in English. What kind of friend can be? It can be completely different, but you pay attention to the following English phrases with translation into Russian and choose the ones that you like. Let's characterize friends!

• Alex is my. - Alexmybestfriend.
• Ann is my close friend... - Annamyclosefriend.
• Tom and Mike are. - VolumeandMikegoodfriends.
• They are. - Theyfriends.
• Is tom an acquaintance of yours? - Youyou knowVolume? Is Tom an acquaintance of yours?

Pay attention to phrases with the word "friend", which can also give some information, a brief description of your friend or your friendship with someone:

• Truefriend- true friend
• Loyalfriend- a devoted friend
• Real friend- a true friend
• Fast- Close friends
• School- school friends
• Childhood friends- childhood friends
• - old friends
• Boy-friend,girl-friend- boyfriend, girlfriend (in a relationship)

And now some kind of idioms about what you could go through with your friend and what trials you had:

• Togothroughthickandthin- to experience good and bad together, to experience a lot, to go through
• To go through hell and high water- go through fire and water
• Fair-weatherfriend- a friend only in favorable situations
• inhighplaces- friends in high circles, profitable connections
• Circle of friends- circle of friends

Talking about friendship and friends

Pay attention to how these idioms behave in sentences in English with translation:

• Mike is my old best friend; together we went through thick and thin. - Mikemyoldbestfriend; togetherwemuchexperienced.
• AnybodylikesTom;heisafair- weather friend ... - Nobody likes Tom; he is a friend only in favorable situations.
• Icanresolvethisproblem,becauseIhavesomein high places ... - I can solve this problem because I have friends in high circles.
• We wouldn’t like to enlarge the circle of our friends... - Wewouldnotwantedexpanda circleof ourfriends.

A few more phrases about friendship ...

How to introduce your friend in English to the community? It's very easy to do.

• This is my friend ...- This is my friend…
• Meetmyfriend ...
• Let me introduce my friend ...- Let me introduce my friend ...
• Get acquainted with my friend ...- Meet my friend ...

And now some English phrases on how to be friends, with translation:

• Tobuildbridges- build bridges (links)
• Tocrosssomeone "spath- accidentally collide, meet
• A friend in need is a friend indeed- friend is known in trouble
• Tomake make friends, make friends
• Tobeatoddsatsomeone - be at odds with someone
• Tobebirdsofafeather - be from one dough, one field of berry

These expressions will help you talk about your friendship, about your relationship, and describe specifically your situation in friendship.

How to tell about your friend in English?

The topic of friendship and friends is the most common topic in any conversation. Therefore, a conversational situation can often arise when the interlocutor asks you to talk about your friend or friends. Also, this is a common topic for school essays or essays - "My Best Friend". Tell us about a friend in English!

We want to offer you an example of how you can tell about a friend using the English expressions above. Let's start!

I think that nobody can live without friendship. Friends make our life happier and worthy.
I want to tell about my old and best friend Alex. He is my closest friend. I know that I can believe him, because he always helped me. Together we went through hell and high water. We made friends in our early childhood, and everyone who knows us, says that we are birds of a feather.
Alex is an engineer, he works in a factory. He has a small family, a wife and a son, and we often spend weekends together. Also we go fishing, play tennis and football together. Alex is fond of mathematics and chess; he often plays chess with his son.
We had different situations in our life, but always we helped each other. I am proud of my friend Alex and I am happy of our friendship.

If you have difficulty understanding this text, then pay attention to its translation:

I believe that no one can live without friendship. Friends make our lives happier and more dignified.
I want to tell you about my old and best friend Alex. He is my closest friend. I know I can trust him because he has always helped me. Together we went through fire and water. We became friends in early childhood, and everyone who knows us says that we are made of the same dough.
Alex is an engineer, he works in a factory. He has a small family, wife and son, and we often spend weekends together. We also go fishing, play tennis and football together. Alex is fond of mathematics and chess; he often plays chess with his son.
We have had different situations in life, but we have always helped each other. I am proud of my friend Alex and I am happy with our friendship.