48 Idioms for Relationships
Relationships are the heart of human life. Whether it’s family, friends, or romance, we all want to talk about our connections with others. But sometimes regular words don’t capture what we really mean. That’s where idioms come in handy. Idioms are colorful phrases that paint a picture with words and help us express complex feelings in simple ways.
This article will explore idioms that describe relationships. These phrases can help you talk about love, friendship, family bonds, and even difficult relationships in more interesting and meaningful ways. You’ll also find a fun activity to practice using these idioms in everyday conversation.
Idioms for Relationships
1. Match made in heaven
Meaning: Two people who are perfect for each other.
Sentence Example: Sarah and Tom are a match made in heaven – they both love hiking and cooking. / My parents are a match made in heaven after 30 years together.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect pair / Meant to be
2. Two peas in a pod
Meaning: Two people who are very similar or close.
Sentence Example: My twin sister and I are like two peas in a pod – we think the same way. / Those best friends are two peas in a pod, always together.
Other Ways to Say: Just alike / Birds of a feather
3. Thick as thieves
Meaning: Very close friends who trust each other completely.
Sentence Example: Jake and his brother are thick as thieves – they tell each other everything. / The girls on the soccer team became thick as thieves during the season.
Other Ways to Say: Close friends / Tight bond
4. Birds of a feather
Meaning: People who are similar and naturally get along.
Sentence Example: Lisa and Maria are birds of a feather – they both love art and music. / The book club members are birds of a feather, all crazy about mystery novels.
Other Ways to Say: Like minds / Similar souls
5. Joined at the hip
Meaning: Always together, never apart.
Sentence Example: Those two kids are joined at the hip – you never see one without the other. / My grandparents seem joined at the hip after 50 years of marriage.
Other Ways to Say: Always together / Inseparable
6. Hit it off
Meaning: Get along well right away.
Sentence Example: The new student and Emma hit it off on the first day of school. / My dad and my boyfriend hit it off when they met at dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Clicked / Got along great
7. See eye to eye
Meaning: Agree on things or understand each other.
Sentence Example: My mom and I don’t always see eye to eye about my bedtime. / The team captains need to see eye to eye before the big game.
Other Ways to Say: Agree / On the same page
8. Through thick and thin
Meaning: Stay loyal during good times and bad times.
Sentence Example: My best friend stuck with me through thick and thin when I was sick. / True friends stay together through thick and thin.
Other Ways to Say: In good and bad times / Always there
9. Blood is thicker than water
Meaning: Family relationships are stronger than friendships.
Sentence Example: Even though we fight, blood is thicker than water – I’ll always help my brother. / Mom says blood is thicker than water when she picks sides.
Other Ways to Say: Family first / Family bonds
10. Wear your heart on your sleeve
Meaning: Show your feelings openly.
Sentence Example: Jenny wears her heart on her sleeve – you always know when she’s happy or sad. / My teacher wears his heart on his sleeve about caring for students.
Other Ways to Say: Show emotions / Open book
11. Have a soft spot for
Meaning: Feel especially caring toward someone.
Sentence Example: Grandpa has a soft spot for his youngest granddaughter. / My teacher has a soft spot for students who try hard.
Other Ways to Say: Care deeply / Special place
12. Apple of my eye
Meaning: Someone very special and loved.
Sentence Example: My little nephew is the apple of my eye. / Dad always says Mom is the apple of his eye.
Other Ways to Say: Most loved / Very special
13. Get along like a house on fire
Meaning: Become friends very quickly and easily.
Sentence Example: The new neighbors and we got along like a house on fire from day one. / My sister and her roommate got along like a house on fire.
Other Ways to Say: Great friends / Fast friends
14. Break the ice
Meaning: Start a conversation or make a new relationship more comfortable.
Sentence Example: The party games helped break the ice between the shy kids. / My joke about homework helped break the ice with the new teacher.
Other Ways to Say: Start talking / Make comfortable
15. Win someone over
Meaning: Get someone to like you.
Sentence Example: The puppy won over everyone in the family with his cute tricks. / She won over the class with her funny stories.
Other Ways to Say: Charm / Make them like you
16. Fall head over heels
Meaning: Fall in love very quickly and completely.
Sentence Example: My older brother fell head over heels for his girlfriend at first sight. / She fell head over heels for the cute puppy at the shelter.
Other Ways to Say: Fall in love / Smitten
17. Puppy love
Meaning: Young love that doesn’t last long.
Sentence Example: My first crush in middle school was just puppy love. / Mom says teenage relationships are usually puppy love.
Other Ways to Say: Young love / Crush
18. Tie the knot
Meaning: Get married.
Sentence Example: My aunt and uncle will tie the knot next summer. / They decided to tie the knot after dating for three years.
Other Ways to Say: Get married / Wed
19. Made for each other
Meaning: Perfect together as a couple.
Sentence Example: Look how happy they are – they were made for each other. / My grandparents seem like they were made for each other.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect match / Meant to be
20. On the same wavelength
Meaning: Think and feel the same way about things.
Sentence Example: My best friend and I are always on the same wavelength about movies. / The coach and team captain are on the same wavelength about winning.
Other Ways to Say: Think alike / Same ideas
21. Shoulder to cry on
Meaning: Someone who gives comfort when you’re sad.
Sentence Example: My big sister is always a shoulder to cry on when I have problems. / Good friends offer a shoulder to cry on during hard times.
Other Ways to Say: Comfort / Support
22. Fair weather friend
Meaning: Someone who is only your friend when things are going well.
Sentence Example: He turned out to be a fair weather friend when I needed help moving. / Real friends aren’t fair weather friends who disappear during problems.
Other Ways to Say: Not a true friend / Only there for good times
23. Partner in crime
Meaning: Someone who joins you in activities, usually fun ones.
Sentence Example: My cousin is my partner in crime for all our family pranks. / She found her partner in crime for late-night study sessions.
Other Ways to Say: Best buddy / Teammate
24. Old flame
Meaning: Someone you used to date or love.
Sentence Example: My mom ran into an old flame at the grocery store. / He still thinks about his old flame from high school.
Other Ways to Say: Ex / Former love
25. Carry a torch for
Meaning: Still love someone who doesn’t love you back.
Sentence Example: He’s been carrying a torch for his coworker for months. / She carried a torch for her best friend all through college.
Other Ways to Say: One-sided love / Unrequited love
26. Love at first sight
Meaning: Fall in love the moment you meet someone.
Sentence Example: My parents say it was love at first sight when they met at the dance. / Do you believe in love at first sight like in the movies?
Other Ways to Say: Instant love / Immediate attraction
27. Go way back
Meaning: Know someone for a very long time.
Sentence Example: Mrs. Johnson and my mom go way back to their college days. / The coach and principal go way back to when they played football together.
Other Ways to Say: Long friendship / Known forever
28. Kindred spirit
Meaning: Someone who thinks and feels like you do.
Sentence Example: I found a kindred spirit in my art class who loves painting like I do. / They’re kindred spirits who both care about helping animals.
Other Ways to Say: Like-minded / Soul mate
29. Circle of friends
Meaning: Your group of close friends.
Sentence Example: My circle of friends includes kids from school and my neighborhood. / She has a tight circle of friends who support each other.
Other Ways to Say: Friend group / Close friends
30. Rub someone the wrong way
Meaning: Annoy or bother someone without meaning to.
Sentence Example: The new kid’s loud talking rubbed the teacher the wrong way. / Something about his attitude rubs me the wrong way.
Other Ways to Say: Annoy / Irritate
31. Get under someone’s skin
Meaning: Really bother or annoy someone.
Sentence Example: My little brother knows how to get under my skin with his teasing. / The bully’s words got under her skin and made her upset.
Other Ways to Say: Really annoy / Bug
32. Meet halfway
Meaning: Compromise to solve a disagreement.
Sentence Example: Mom and I decided to meet halfway about my weekend plans. / The friends had to meet halfway to pick a movie they both wanted to see.
Other Ways to Say: Compromise / Find middle ground
33. Bury the hatchet
Meaning: Stop fighting and make peace.
Sentence Example: The brothers decided to bury the hatchet after their big argument. / It’s time for our families to bury the hatchet and be friends again.
Other Ways to Say: Make peace / Stop fighting
34. Water under the bridge
Meaning: Past problems that don’t matter anymore.
Sentence Example: Our fight last week is just water under the bridge now. / Don’t worry about the mistake – it’s water under the bridge.
Other Ways to Say: In the past / Forgotten
35. Kiss and make up
Meaning: Forgive each other after an argument.
Sentence Example: The best friends had a fight but decided to kiss and make up. / Mom told us to kiss and make up before dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Forgive / Make peace
36. Heart-to-heart
Meaning: An honest, deep conversation about feelings.
Sentence Example: My dad and I had a heart-to-heart talk about my grades. / The friends needed a heart-to-heart about their friendship problems.
Other Ways to Say: Deep talk / Honest conversation
37. Spill your guts
Meaning: Tell someone everything about your feelings or secrets.
Sentence Example: I decided to spill my guts to my best friend about my crush. / Sometimes you need to spill your guts to feel better.
Other Ways to Say: Tell all / Share everything
38. Open up
Meaning: Start sharing your real feelings.
Sentence Example: It took time for the shy student to open up to her new friends. / My brother finally opened up about what was bothering him.
Other Ways to Say: Share feelings / Be honest
39. Give someone the cold shoulder
Meaning: Ignore someone on purpose to show you’re upset.
Sentence Example: After the fight, she gave her friend the cold shoulder for a week. / He’s been giving me the cold shoulder since I forgot his birthday.
Other Ways to Say: Ignore / Snub
40. Bridge the gap
Meaning: Help connect people who disagree or don’t understand each other.
Sentence Example: The counselor helped bridge the gap between the arguing students. / We need to bridge the gap between the younger and older kids in our club.
Other Ways to Say: Bring together / Connect
41. Take someone under your wing
Meaning: Help and protect someone newer or younger.
Sentence Example: The eighth grader took the new sixth grader under her wing. / My older cousin took me under his wing when I started high school.
Other Ways to Say: Look out for / Mentor
42. Birds of a feather flock together
Meaning: People with similar interests become friends.
Sentence Example: All the basketball players hang out together – birds of a feather flock together. / The art students became friends because birds of a feather flock together.
Other Ways to Say: Like attracts like / Similar people connect
43. Opposites attract
Meaning: People who are different often make good couples or friends.
Sentence Example: My quiet friend and loud friend prove that opposites attract. / My parents show that opposites attract – Mom loves books and Dad loves sports.
Other Ways to Say: Different but good together / Complement each other
44. Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Meaning: Missing someone makes you love them more.
Sentence Example: While at camp, I learned that absence makes the heart grow fonder – I missed my family. / They say absence makes the heart grow fonder when friends move away.
Other Ways to Say: Miss them more / Distance increases love
45. You can’t choose your family
Meaning: You’re stuck with your relatives whether you like them or not.
Sentence Example: My annoying little brother reminds me that you can’t choose your family. / Even when relatives are difficult, you can’t choose your family.
Other Ways to Say: Family is family / Born into it
46. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Meaning: Children are often like their parents.
Sentence Example: She’s good at art just like her mom – the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. / His kindness shows the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Other Ways to Say: Like parent, like child / Family traits
47. A shoulder to lean on
Meaning: Someone who helps you through difficult times.
Sentence Example: My best friend was a shoulder to lean on when my pet died. / Teachers can be a shoulder to lean on when school gets hard.
Other Ways to Say: Support / Helper
48. Keep someone at arm’s length
Meaning: Stay friendly but not too close to someone.
Sentence Example: I keep the gossipy girl at arm’s length so she doesn’t spread rumors about me. / It’s smart to keep bullies at arm’s length.
Other Ways to Say: Keep distance / Stay cautious
Exercise to Practice
- My sister and I are like _______ – we both love reading and hate loud music.
- When I was nervous about the new school, my neighbor became a _______ and helped me feel better.
- The new student and I _______ right away because we both play soccer.
- My grandparents have been together _______ for over 40 years.
- My friend wears her _______ and always shows when she’s happy or sad.
- I have a _______ for my little cousin – he’s so cute and funny.
- My mom says my dad is the _______ because he’s the most important person to her.
- The class president helped _______ by getting the shy kids to join group activities.
- Those two friends are _______ because they’re always together and share everything.
- My brother _______ for his girlfriend – he thinks about her all the time.
- We don’t always _______ about music, but we’re still good friends.
- After our fight, we decided to _______ and be friends again.
- My older sister took me _______ when I started middle school and felt scared.
- The teammates are _______ who work together on every project.
- Even though we’re different, my friend and I prove that _______.
Answer Key
- two peas in a pod
- shoulder to lean on
- hit it off
- through thick and thin
- heart on her sleeve
- soft spot
- apple of his eye
- break the ice
- thick as thieves
- fell head over heels
- see eye to eye
- bury the hatchet
- under her wing
- partners in crime
- opposites attract
Conclusion
Using idioms about relationships makes your conversations more colorful and interesting. These phrases help you describe the complex world of human connections in ways that everyone can understand and relate to. Whether you’re talking about family, friends, crushes, or even difficult people, these idioms give you the perfect words.
Try using a few of these relationship idioms this week. Maybe tell a friend they’re “the apple of your eye” or mention how you and your sibling “see eye to eye” about something. These small phrases can make your words more meaningful and help others understand just how much your relationships mean to you.
