Idioms are vibrant expressions that add flair and depth to our language, often conveying meanings far beyond the literal words. They’re like hidden gems in conversations, helping us describe complex emotions and situations with creativity and precision. When it comes to identifying fake friends—those who pretend to be loyal but have ulterior motives—idioms can be especially powerful. They capture the essence of betrayal, insincerity, and disloyalty in ways that resonate deeply. For anyone navigating friendships, learning these idioms can sharpen your ability to spot untrustworthy people and express your experiences vividly. In this blog post, we’ll explore 45 idioms about fake friends, complete with their meanings, example sentences, and alternative ways to say them. Plus, we’ve included a fun exercise to help you practice and a conclusion to tie it all together. Let’s dive into the colorful world of idioms and uncover the truth about fake friends!
Idioms About Fake Friends
1. Wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Someone who appears kind or harmless but is actually deceitful or malicious.
In a Sentence: I thought she was my best friend, but when she spread rumors about me, I realized she was just a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Other Ways to Say: Crocodile tears, Two-faced, Deceptive friend
2. Fair-weather friend
Meaning: A person who is only supportive when things are going well.
In a Sentence: He was always around when I had party invites, but when I needed help, that fair-weather friend disappeared faster than lightning.
Other Ways to Say: Sunshine buddy, Part-time pal
3. Crocodile tears
Meaning: Fake crying or pretending to be upset to gain sympathy.
In a Sentence: She shed crocodile tears when I failed the test, but I heard her laughing about it with others later.
Other Ways to Say: False tears, Crocodile’s sob
4. Two-faced
Meaning: Someone who is insincere, acting one way with you and differently with others.
In a Sentence: I trusted her with my secrets, but her two-faced nature became clear when she told everyone behind my back.
Other Ways to Say: Double-dealing, Hypocritical
5. Snake in the grass
Meaning: A sneaky or treacherous person who pretends to be a friend.
In a Sentence: He seemed so supportive, but that snake in the grass was secretly sabotaging my project to take credit.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden enemy, Sneaky betrayer
6. Stab in the back
Meaning: To betray someone who trusts you.
In a Sentence: I never expected my closest friend to stab me in the back by spreading lies about me to our group.
Other Ways to Say: Betray, Double-cross
7. Burn bridges
Meaning: To ruin a relationship, often intentionally, making reconciliation impossible.
In a Sentence: By gossiping about me, she burned bridges, and now I can’t trust her ever again.
Other Ways to Say: Cut ties, Destroy relationships
8. Talk behind someone’s back
Meaning: To speak negatively about someone when they’re not present.
In a Sentence: I thought we were close, but she was always talking behind my back, spreading rumors to everyone.
Other Ways to Say: Gossip secretly, Badmouth
9. Throw under the bus
Meaning: To betray someone to save yourself or gain an advantage.
In a Sentence: When the teacher asked who started the prank, he threw me under the bus to avoid getting in trouble.
Other Ways to Say: Sell out, Sacrifice someone
10. Crocodile’s smile
Meaning: A fake smile used to hide bad intentions.
In a Sentence: Her crocodile’s smile fooled me at first, but I soon realized she was plotting against me.
Other Ways to Say: Fake grin, Deceptive charm
11. All talk and no action
Meaning: Someone who makes promises but doesn’t follow through.
In a Sentence: He promised to help me with my project, but he’s all talk and no action, leaving me to do it alone.
Other Ways to Say: Empty promises, Full of hot air
12. Keep at arm’s length
Meaning: To avoid getting too close to someone you don’t fully trust.
In a Sentence: After noticing her shady behavior, I decided to keep her at arm’s length to protect myself.
Other Ways to Say: Stay cautious, Keep your distance
13. A friend in need is a friend indeed
Meaning: A true friend helps you in tough times, unlike fake friends who disappear.
In a Sentence: When I was struggling, only my true friends stayed, proving a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Other Ways to Say: True friends show up, Loyal in tough times
14. Blow hot and cold
Meaning: To be inconsistent in behavior, sometimes friendly and sometimes distant.
In a Sentence: She blows hot and cold, being super nice one day and ignoring me completely the next.
Other Ways to Say: Flip-flop, Be unpredictable
15. Show your true colors
Meaning: To reveal your real, often negative, personality or intentions.
In a Sentence: When she ditched me during the crisis, she finally showed her true colors as a fake friend.
Other Ways to Say: Reveal yourself, Expose your nature
16. With friends like these, who needs enemies?
Meaning: Used when so-called friends act like enemies.
In a Sentence: After she spread my secrets, I thought, with friends like these, who needs enemies?
Other Ways to Say: Bad friends are worse than foes, Betrayed by friends
17. Fly-by-night
Meaning: Someone unreliable who disappears when needed.
In a Sentence: He was a fly-by-night friend, always vanishing when I needed support the most.
Other Ways to Say: Unreliable, Here today, gone tomorrow
18. Backstabber
Meaning: A person who betrays you secretly.
In a Sentence: I trusted him completely, but he turned out to be a backstabber who ruined my reputation.
Other Ways to Say: Traitor, Betrayer
19. Fair-weather sailor
Meaning: Someone who abandons you during tough times.
In a Sentence: She was a fair-weather sailor, only sticking around when life was easy and fun.
Other Ways to Say: Part-time friend, Sunshine companion
20. Play both sides
Meaning: To act friendly with two opposing groups for personal gain.
In a Sentence: She played both sides, pretending to be my friend while cozying up to my rival.
Other Ways to Say: Be two-faced, Work both angles
21. Lip service
Meaning: Giving insincere support or praise without action.
In a Sentence: She offered lip service about helping me, but never showed up when I needed her.
Other Ways to Say: Empty words, Hollow promises
22. False friend
Meaning: Someone who pretends to be a friend but is disloyal.
In a Sentence: I thought we were close, but her actions proved she was just a false friend.
Other Ways to Say: Fake pal, Deceptive buddy
23. Turncoat
Meaning: Someone who switches loyalty for selfish reasons.
In a Sentence: He was a turncoat, abandoning our group the moment he got a better offer.
Other Ways to Say: Traitor, Defector
24. Smiling Judas
Meaning: A person who betrays you while appearing friendly.
In a Sentence: With her sweet words, she was a smiling Judas, plotting against me all along.
Other Ways to Say: Crocodile tears, Two-faced betrayer
25. Snake oil salesman
Meaning: Someone who promotes something false or worthless, often charmingly.
In a Sentence: He acted like my friend but was a snake oil salesman, convincing me to trust his bad advice.
Other Ways to Say: Con artist, Deceptive charmer
26. Pull the wool over your eyes
Meaning: To deceive or trick someone.
In a Sentence: She pulled the wool over my eyes, pretending to care while spreading gossip about me.
Other Ways to Say: Fool someone, Trick them
27. Judas kiss
Meaning: A false act of affection that leads to betrayal.
In a Sentence: Her hug felt warm, but it was a Judas kiss, hiding her plan to betray me.
Other Ways to Say: False affection, Crocodile tears
28. Speak with a forked tongue
Meaning: To lie or be deceitful in speech.
In a Sentence: I trusted her words, but she spoke with a forked tongue, lying to my face.
Other Ways to Say: Be dishonest, Lie smoothly
29. Crocodile’s grin
Meaning: A fake or insincere smile hiding bad intentions.
In a Sentence: His crocodile’s grin made me think he was friendly, but he was plotting against me.
Other Ways to Say: False smile, Deceptive charm
30. Benedict Arnold
Meaning: A traitor who betrays someone who trusts them.
In a Sentence: After he sold my secrets, I called him a Benedict Arnold for his betrayal.
Other Ways to Say: Traitor, Backstabber
31. Sell someone down the river
Meaning: To betray someone for personal gain.
In a Sentence: She sold me down the river by telling the teacher I cheated, just to look better herself.
Other Ways to Say: Betray for gain, Throw under the bus
32. Blow smoke
Meaning: To deceive with flattery or lies.
In a Sentence: He was blowing smoke with all his compliments, just to borrow my notes later.
Other Ways to Say: Flatter falsely, Deceive with words
33. Crocodile’s tears
Meaning: Pretending to be sad to manipulate others.
In a Sentence: Her crocodile’s tears fooled everyone, but I knew she didn’t care about my problems.
Other Ways to Say: Fake crying, False sympathy
34. Snake in the bosom
Meaning: A close friend who betrays you.
In a Sentence: I treated her like family, but she was a snake in the bosom, spreading lies about me.
Other Ways to Say: Trusted betrayer, Close traitor
35. Hang someone out to dry
Meaning: To abandon someone in a difficult situation.
In a Sentence: When the project failed, she hung me out to dry, blaming me for everything.
Other Ways to Say: Abandon, Leave in the lurch
36. Double-cross
Meaning: To betray someone after promising loyalty.
In a Sentence: I thought we had a deal, but he double-crossed me by telling everyone my plan.
Other Ways to Say: Betray, Backstab
37. Crocodile’s charm
Meaning: Using charm to hide deceitful intentions.
In a Sentence: Her crocodile’s charm made everyone like her, but she was secretly undermining us.
Other Ways to Say: Deceptive charm, False friendliness
38. Stab someone in the heart
Meaning: To deeply betray someone emotionally.
In a Sentence: By lying about me to my crush, she stabbed me in the heart, knowing how much it would hurt.
Other Ways to Say: Deep betrayal, Hurt deeply
39. Fair-weather companion
Meaning: Someone who is only around when things are good.
In a Sentence: She was a fair-weather companion, vanishing the moment I faced any trouble.
Other Ways to Say: Sunshine friend, Temporary pal
40. Play someone for a fool
Meaning: To deceive or manipulate someone by pretending to be their friend.
In a Sentence: I thought he cared, but he was just playing me for a fool to get my help.
Other Ways to Say: Trick someone, Manipulate
41. Crocodile’s embrace
Meaning: A false show of affection meant to deceive.
In a Sentence: Her crocodile’s embrace felt warm, but it was just a way to gain my trust.
Other Ways to Say: Fake hug, Deceptive affection
42. Knife in the back
Meaning: A sudden and unexpected betrayal.
In a Sentence: I shared my dreams with her, but she gave me a knife in the back by mocking them.
Other Ways to Say: Sudden betrayal, Backstab
43. False face
Meaning: Pretending to be something you’re not to deceive others.
In a Sentence: His false face made me think he was kind, but he was just using me for favors.
Other Ways to Say: Fake persona, Crocodile tears
44. Blow hot air
Meaning: To make empty promises or talk without substance.
In a Sentence: She was blowing hot air when she said she’d always have my back, then ditched me.
Other Ways to Say: Empty promises, Talk big
45. Crocodile’s ruse
Meaning: A clever trick or deception used to fool someone.
In a Sentence: Her crocodile’s ruse of acting like my best friend fooled me until I saw her true intentions.
Other Ways to Say: Clever deception, Sneaky trick
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom:
- When she pretended to cry about my loss, I knew those were _______ tears.
- He seemed loyal, but he turned out to be a _______ in sheep’s clothing.
- She was only around when I was popular, proving she’s just a _______ friend.
- By spreading my secrets, he _______ me in the back.
- I trusted her, but she was a _______ in the grass, waiting to betray me.
- When the project went wrong, he _______ me under the bus to save himself.
- Her _______ smile made me think she cared, but it was all fake.
- He _______ both sides, pretending to be friends with everyone for his own gain.
- After she betrayed me, I realized, with _______ like these, who needs enemies?
- I decided to _______ her at arm’s length after noticing her shady behavior.
- She _______ my trust by pretending to be my friend while gossiping about me.
- His _______ made me think he was sincere, but it was just a trick to use me.
- When she abandoned me during tough times, I knew she was just a _______ sailor.
- By lying to my face, she was speaking with a _______ tongue.
- Her _______ embrace fooled me into thinking she was a true friend.
Answers:
crocodile’s, wolf, fair-weather, stabbed, snake, threw, crocodile’s, played, friends, keep, betrayed, crocodile’s, fair-weather, forked, crocodile’s
Conclusion
Idioms about fake friends are more than just catchy phrases—they’re tools to help you navigate the complexities of relationships. By understanding these expressions, you can better recognize insincere people and protect yourself from betrayal. These idioms also add color to your conversations, letting you describe disloyalty and deceit with precision and flair. Practice using them in real-life situations, whether you’re talking with friends, writing a story, or reflecting on your experiences. Over time, they’ll become a natural part of your language, empowering you to communicate with confidence and spot fake friends from a mile away.