Talking about relationships? Use these 5 English idioms

We all know a couple that's so inseparable they might as well be glued together (or hey, maybe that's you). Or a friendship that has survived every up and down life has thrown at it. Well, guess what? There's an idiom for that. English is packed with expressions for relationships, and here are five you'll want to know.

Joined at the hip

Some people are inseparable. They do everything together, go everywhere together, and barely seem to function apart. That's what "joined at the hip" means. You can use it for best friends, siblings, or couples.

• Emma and Sophia are joined at the hip. You never see one without the other.
• Ever since Jake and Noah moved in together, they've been joined at the hip.
• My grandparents have been joined at the hip since they met at school.

Through thick and thin

True loyalty isn't only about being there when things are good. It's about sticking around no matter what. "Through thick and thin" means staying by someone's side in the good times and the bad. German speakers will know this one already, because durch dick und dünn means exactly the same thing.

• Sarah and Mia have been through thick and thin together. Job losses, bad breakups, you name it.
• I know I can count on my brother. He's been there for me through thick and thin.
• They stuck together through thick and thin, and now they're celebrating 50 years of marriage.

A match made in heaven

When two people just work perfectly together, you can call them "a match made in heaven." It's most often used for couples, but it also works for friends, business partners, or even food that goes well together.

• Liam and Zoe are a match made in heaven.
• Those two are a match made in heaven. One has the ideas, and the other knows how to make them happen.
• Chocolate and peanut butter? A match made in heaven.

On the rocks

Not every relationship goes smoothly. When one is in trouble and might not last, you can say it's "on the rocks," like a ship that's about to sink. It's mostly used for couples, but it works for friendships too. (Not to be confused with a drink "on the rocks," which just means it's served with ice.)

• I don't think they'll last much longer. Their marriage has been on the rocks for months.
• Ever since that argument, their friendship has been on the rocks.

A shoulder to cry on

Everyone needs someone to lean on when times get tough. If a person is always there to listen and comfort you, they're "a shoulder to cry on."

• After her breakup, Sarah really needed a shoulder to cry on.
• My sister has always been a shoulder to cry on when things get hard.
• She doesn't say much, but she's the best shoulder to cry on when you're feeling down.

Relationships can be messy, complicated, or downright perfect. Lucky for us, English has a way of describing them all, and now you've got five idioms to do it with.

Love learning new expressions? There's plenty more where these came from. Watch our Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs for even more useful idioms.