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 that capture relationships perfectly — here are five you'll want to know.

"Joined at the hip"

Some people are just inseparable — they do everything together, go everywhere together, and barely seem to function apart. That's what "joined at the hip" means. It's used to describe two people with an extremely close bond, whether they're best friends, siblings, or even a couple.

Examples:

"Emma and Sophia are basically joined at the hip — you never see one without the other."

"Ever since Jake and Noah became roommates, they've been joined at the hip."

"My grandparents have been joined at the hip since they met in high school."

"Through thick and thin"

True loyalty isn't just about being there when things are good. It's about sticking around no matter what. "Through thick and thin" means standing by someone in both the best and worst times, through every challenge and success.

Examples:

"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 always been there for me through thick and thin."

"They stayed together through thick and thin, and now they're celebrating 50 years of marriage."

"A match made in heaven"

When two people (or things) just work perfectly together, you can call them "a match made in heaven." It's most often used for romantic couples, but it can also describe friendships, business partnerships, or even things that pair well — like food combinations.

Examples:

"Liam and Zoe are a match made in heaven."

"Those two business partners are a match made in heaven. One is great at ideas, and the other knows how to make them happen."

"Chocolate and peanut butter? Definitely a match made in heaven."

"On the rocks"

Not every relationship goes smoothly. When things start to fall apart or hit a rough patch, you can say they're "on the rocks." While it's mostly used for romantic relationships, it can also describe friendships or business partnerships that are in trouble.

Examples:

"I don't know if they'll last much longer — their relationship has been on the rocks for months."

"Ever since that argument, their friendship has been on the rocks."

"The company's future is on the rocks after losing its biggest client."

"A shoulder to cry on"

Everyone needs someone to lean on when times get tough. If a person is always there to listen, support, and comfort you, they're "a shoulder to cry on." This idiom is often used for close friends, family members, or partners who provide emotional support.

Examples:

"After her breakup, Sarah really needed a shoulder to cry on."

"He's always been a shoulder to cry on whenever I've needed advice."

"She may not say much, but she's the best shoulder to cry on when you're feeling down."

We all know relationships can be messy, complicated, or downright perfect. Lucky for us, English has a way of capturing them all. Now you've got five idioms that say it better than plain words ever could.

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