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Fair-weather Friend

What Does "Fair-weather Friend" Mean?

homeidiomsFair-weather Friend
"Fair-weather friend" is an English idiom. It means "someone who is a friend only when things are good or beneficial for them, but abandons you in times of difficulty or when you're no longer beneficial."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "fair-weather friend" used in a sentence:
  • When I lost my job, I realized who my fair-weather friends were.
  • It's easy to be surrounded by fair-weather friends when you're successful.
  • She promised to always be there for me, but turned out to be a fair-weather friend.
meaning for fair-weather friend

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Fair-weather Friend" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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