Trust is one of those things that takes time to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair—but when we talk about it, idioms can help us express our feelings in powerful, creative ways that stick in people’s minds.
These expressions paint pictures with words, making it easier to describe situations where we rely on others, where we feel safe and believed, or when that trust is tested. Whether it’s about friends, family, or teammates, trust is something we all need—and these idioms make it easier to talk about it, understand it, and even teach it.
In this post, you’ll explore 55 trust-related idioms with their meanings, example sentences, and other ways to say the same thing so you can start using them confidently in your everyday life—whether you’re having a heart-to-heart or writing something meaningful.
Idioms for Trust
1. Take someone at their word
Meaning: To believe someone is telling the truth without asking for proof or questioning their honesty.
In a Sentence: Even though we had just met, I decided to take him at his word because something in his eyes told me I could believe him, and that’s not something I feel often.
Other Ways to Say: Trust what someone says, Believe without doubt
2. Put your faith in
Meaning: To fully rely on someone because you trust their character, ability, or judgment.
In a Sentence: When the storm hit unexpectedly during our hiking trip, I put my faith in Mia to lead us safely back because she had the experience and confidence I lacked in that moment.
Other Ways to Say: Rely on, Believe in someone
3. Have someone’s back
Meaning: To support someone in any situation, especially when things go wrong or get tough.
In a Sentence: No matter what kind of trouble I find myself in, I always know that my best friend has my back and will defend me or stand by me even when everyone else walks away.
Other Ways to Say: Defend someone, Be a loyal ally
4. In good hands
Meaning: To be cared for or protected by someone who is trustworthy and capable.
In a Sentence: Once I dropped off my sick puppy at the animal hospital and saw how gently the vet treated him, I instantly knew he was in good hands, and my anxiety finally eased.
Other Ways to Say: Safe, In capable care
5. Open book
Meaning: A person who is very open and honest, without hiding their thoughts or feelings.
In a Sentence: She’s such an open book that if you ask her anything, she’ll tell you the whole truth without skipping a beat, even if it makes her vulnerable or uncomfortable.
Other Ways to Say: Honest, Transparent
6. Seal of approval
Meaning: When someone you trust supports or confirms something is good or reliable.
In a Sentence: I wasn’t sure about buying the used laptop, but once my tech-savvy cousin gave it his seal of approval, I knew it was a safe bet and went ahead with confidence.
Other Ways to Say: Trusted recommendation, Endorsement
7. Build bridges
Meaning: To create or repair trust and understanding between people who may have had differences.
In a Sentence: After months of tension between us, I finally reached out to build bridges, because I realized that regaining her trust was more important than holding onto my pride.
Other Ways to Say: Reconnect, Mend relationships
8. Earn someone’s trust
Meaning: To gain someone’s belief in your reliability or honesty through actions over time.
In a Sentence: He didn’t trust me at first, but after consistently showing up and helping him study for weeks, I slowly earned his trust and became someone he could count on.
Other Ways to Say: Gain confidence, Build credibility
9. Trust your gut
Meaning: To believe what your instincts or feelings are telling you without needing logical proof.
In a Sentence: I didn’t have any solid evidence that the deal was shady, but I trusted my gut and backed out—and later, I found out I had avoided a huge scam.
Other Ways to Say: Follow your instinct, Go with your feelings
10. Man of his word / Woman of her word
Meaning: Someone who does exactly what they say they will do, no matter what.
In a Sentence: When she told me she’d be there at sunrise to help me move, I believed her without hesitation because she’s a woman of her word and always follows through.
Other Ways to Say: Reliable person, Promise-keeper
11. Straight shooter
Meaning: Someone who is very honest and speaks directly, even if the truth is hard to hear.
In a Sentence: I may not always agree with everything he says, but I trust him completely because he’s a straight shooter who never hides behind sugar-coated lies.
Other Ways to Say: Truth-teller, No-nonsense communicator
12. Put your money where your mouth is
Meaning: To show that you mean what you say by taking real action or making a sacrifice.
In a Sentence: She kept saying she believed in our cause, but she really put her money where her mouth is when she volunteered every weekend for the whole year.
Other Ways to Say: Back it up, Prove your words
13. Call a spade a spade
Meaning: To speak plainly and tell the truth, even if it’s uncomfortable or unpopular.
In a Sentence: I trust him because he’s not afraid to call a spade a spade—he’ll always give you the real story without spinning it to make himself look better.
Other Ways to Say: Be direct, Speak the truth
14. Keep one’s word
Meaning: To do exactly what you promised or committed to doing.
In a Sentence: Even though the weather was awful and everyone else canceled, she kept her word and showed up just like she said she would.
Other Ways to Say: Stay true to your promise, Be dependable
15. Lay it on the line
Meaning: To say something very directly, even if there’s a risk involved or it’s hard to say.
In a Sentence: I had to lay it on the line and tell him that I no longer trusted him after he lied to me twice about something that really mattered.
Other Ways to Say: Be brutally honest, Say what’s really on your mind
16. On the same wavelength
Meaning: To share similar thoughts, beliefs, or understanding with someone.
In a Sentence: We’ve worked together for so long that we don’t even need to explain things anymore—we’re just always on the same wavelength, finishing each other’s ideas with complete trust.
Other Ways to Say: Think alike, Be in sync
17. Let someone in
Meaning: To allow someone to know your true thoughts, feelings, or secrets.
In a Sentence: It took me a while to trust her, but when I finally let her in, I realized how good it felt to share the weight I had been carrying alone.
Other Ways to Say: Open up, Share personal things
18. Keep it under your hat
Meaning: To keep something secret or confidential.
In a Sentence: I told her about my plan to switch schools, and she kept it under her hat like a true friend, never once letting it slip before I was ready.
Other Ways to Say: Keep a secret, Stay quiet
19. Trust fall
Meaning: A symbolic or literal gesture where someone falls backward trusting another to catch them, representing faith.
In a Sentence: During camp, I did my first trust fall with my team, and even though I was nervous, I let myself fall and realized how powerful it felt to be caught.
Other Ways to Say: Rely on others, Surrender control
20. Ride or die
Meaning: A person who is loyal and will stick with you through thick and thin.
In a Sentence: We’ve had our ups and downs, but she’s my ride or die—I trust her with every part of my life, and I know she’ll always have my back no matter what.
Other Ways to Say: Loyal friend, True companion
21. Tight-lipped
Meaning: Someone who doesn’t share secrets and can be trusted to keep quiet.
In a Sentence: You can trust him with anything because he’s tight-lipped—he’ll never breathe a word of your secrets to anyone.
Other Ways to Say: Discreet, Silent and trustworthy
22. Break someone’s trust
Meaning: To betray someone or do something that damages their faith in you.
In a Sentence: He broke my trust when he lied about something so small, and it made me wonder what else he might be hiding from me.
Other Ways to Say: Betray, Let someone down
23. Put trust in the wrong hands
Meaning: To trust someone who turns out to be unworthy or harmful.
In a Sentence: I learned the hard way that I had put my trust in the wrong hands when she shared my private story with the entire class.
Other Ways to Say: Misplace trust, Trust the wrong person
24. Give someone the benefit of the doubt
Meaning: To assume someone is telling the truth or acting with good intent, even if there’s some uncertainty.
In a Sentence: I had my doubts, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt because I wanted to believe that he hadn’t done it on purpose.
Other Ways to Say: Assume the best, Trust without proof
25. No questions asked
Meaning: To agree to help or support someone without needing explanations.
In a Sentence: When I needed a place to stay, she took me in—no questions asked—and that kind of trust is something I’ll never forget.
Other Ways to Say: Total support, Unconditional help
26. Through thick and thin
Meaning: Being loyal and supportive no matter the circumstances.
In a Sentence: We’ve stayed friends through thick and thin, and it’s because we trust each other completely—even when things get rough.
Other Ways to Say: Always there, No matter what
27. Keep something in confidence
Meaning: To be trusted with private or sensitive information.
In a Sentence: My teacher told me about her personal struggle and asked me to keep it in confidence, which I did without hesitation because I knew how much it meant.
Other Ways to Say: Respect someone’s privacy, Guard a secret
28. A safe pair of hands
Meaning: Someone who can be trusted to do something well and handle responsibility.
In a Sentence: I was nervous about passing the project on, but I knew it was in a safe pair of hands with Jordan—he’s always dependable under pressure.
Other Ways to Say: Responsible, Reliable
29. Blind trust
Meaning: Complete faith in someone without evidence or proof, sometimes too easily.
In a Sentence: I gave her my blind trust, believing she’d never hurt me—but later I realized that trust needs to be earned, not just given away.
Other Ways to Say: Total belief, Naïve confidence
30. Signed, sealed, delivered
Meaning: A promise or agreement that’s been fully confirmed and trusted.
In a Sentence: When she said she’d take care of the dog while we were gone, it was signed, sealed, delivered—I didn’t worry for a second.
Other Ways to Say: Fully agreed, Official and trusted
31. Trust like a rock
Meaning: Trust that is strong, stable, and unshakeable.
In a Sentence: Even when everything else falls apart, I know I can trust my dad like a rock—he’s been my anchor through every storm.
Other Ways to Say: Solid faith, Unbreakable trust
32. Behind your back
Meaning: Doing something without someone’s knowledge, usually in a way that betrays trust.
In a Sentence: I felt betrayed when I found out they had made the decision behind my back without even asking for my opinion or input.
Other Ways to Say: Secretly, Without permission
33. A leap of faith
Meaning: To do something that requires trust even without knowing the outcome.
In a Sentence: Applying to that big art school felt scary, but I took a leap of faith and trusted that my dream was worth the risk.
Other Ways to Say: Big risk, Brave trust
34. Cross your heart
Meaning: A promise of honesty or trust, often made with sincerity.
In a Sentence: I told her I wouldn’t tell a soul, and I meant it—cross my heart and hope to keep our secret safe.
Other Ways to Say: Honest promise, Sincere vow
35. Straight from the horse’s mouth
Meaning: Information from a direct or reliable source.
In a Sentence: I didn’t believe the rumors until I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth—and that’s when I knew it was the truth.
Other Ways to Say: Reliable source, First-hand info
36. Hand in hand
Meaning: Closely connected, especially with trust and teamwork.
In a Sentence: Trust and respect go hand in hand, because without one, the other is nearly impossible to build or keep.
Other Ways to Say: Closely linked, Always together
37. Backstabber
Meaning: Someone who pretends to be trustworthy but betrays others secretly.
In a Sentence: I thought he was loyal, but he turned out to be a backstabber who used everything I told him against me.
Other Ways to Say: Betrayer, Two-faced
38. Trust is earned
Meaning: People must prove their honesty and dependability over time.
In a Sentence: I used to trust people too quickly, but now I know that trust is earned slowly through actions, not just kind words.
Other Ways to Say: Prove yourself, Build trust gradually
39. Leave someone in the lurch
Meaning: To abandon someone who was counting on you.
In a Sentence: When I needed her most, she disappeared and left me in the lurch, and that’s when I realized not everyone can be trusted.
Other Ways to Say: Let someone down, Abandon
40. Put your trust in fate
Meaning: To rely on destiny or luck instead of full control.
In a Sentence: I didn’t have a backup plan, so I just put my trust in fate and hoped that everything would work out in the end.
Other Ways to Say: Leave it up to destiny, Trust the process
41. Hand over the reins
Meaning: To give someone control because you trust them to lead.
In a Sentence: I had been leading the team for months, but I decided to hand over the reins to Maya because I trusted her leadership and fresh ideas.
Other Ways to Say: Give control, Let someone lead
42. Broken promises
Meaning: Commitments that were made but not kept, leading to broken trust.
In a Sentence: After so many broken promises, I stopped believing anything he said and started protecting my heart a little more.
Other Ways to Say: Disappointed hopes, Unkept vows
43. Burned once, twice shy
Meaning: After being hurt, you become cautious about trusting again.
In a Sentence: I used to trust people easily, but after being betrayed by someone close, I’m burned once, twice shy, and now I take my time.
Other Ways to Say: Learn the hard way, Be more careful
44. Heart-to-heart
Meaning: An honest and deeply trusting conversation between people.
In a Sentence: We had a long heart-to-heart conversation after the fight, and it really helped rebuild the trust between us.
Other Ways to Say: Deep talk, Honest chat
45. Put your life in someone’s hands
Meaning: To trust someone completely, even with your safety or future.
In a Sentence: When I went into surgery, I put my life in the surgeon’s hands, trusting that they would take care of me.
Other Ways to Say: Total trust, High-stakes belief
46. Walk the talk
Meaning: To act in a way that matches your words and builds trust.
In a Sentence: She always tells people to be kind, and she walks the talk by helping others every day without expecting anything back.
Other Ways to Say: Practice what you preach, Live your words
47. Tell it like it is
Meaning: To be honest and upfront, even if the truth is hard.
In a Sentence: I trust him because he always tells it like it is, never hiding behind fake compliments or white lies.
Other Ways to Say: Speak truthfully, Say it straight
48. Behind closed doors
Meaning: Something that happens in private, which requires trust to keep quiet.
In a Sentence: They had an honest conversation behind closed doors, trusting each other to keep what was said confidential.
Other Ways to Say: Privately, In secret
49. With all my heart
Meaning: To express full and sincere trust or love.
In a Sentence: I believe in you with all my heart, because I’ve seen how loyal and dependable you are even when things get tough.
Other Ways to Say: Completely, Truly
50. Words to live by
Meaning: A saying or belief that’s trusted and followed in daily life.
In a Sentence: My grandfather’s advice to always be honest and kind became words to live by that still guide me every day.
Other Ways to Say: Guiding principle, Trusted wisdom
51. Show your true colors
Meaning: To reveal who you really are, which affects others’ trust.
In a Sentence: She seemed kind at first, but once pressure hit, she showed her true colors—and I realized she wasn’t someone I could rely on.
Other Ways to Say: Reveal yourself, Show your character
52. Tried and true
Meaning: Something or someone proven to be trustworthy through experience.
In a Sentence: That old recipe book is my tried and true go-to—just like my oldest friend who’s never once let me down.
Other Ways to Say: Reliable, Proven
53. Under lock and key
Meaning: Kept very secure and protected, physically or emotionally.
In a Sentence: I keep my journal under lock and key because I trust myself to write honestly, but I’m not ready to share it with the world.
Other Ways to Say: Safeguarded, Completely private
54. Put it all on the line
Meaning: To risk everything because of trust or belief in someone.
In a Sentence: I put it all on the line when I told her my biggest secret, trusting that she would keep it safe and not judge me.
Other Ways to Say: Take a big risk, Trust deeply
55. Trust is a two-way street
Meaning: Trust must be mutual—it can’t exist unless both people give and receive it.
In a Sentence: I’ve learned that trust is a two-way street—if I want people to trust me, I have to be honest and open with them, too.
Other Ways to Say: Mutual trust, Shared belief
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks using the idioms you’ve learned:
- After the argument, we had a long _______ to clear the air and rebuild trust.
- She kept the surprise party a secret, holding it _______ without slipping once.
- When he kept his promise during the crisis, I knew he was a man of his _______.
- I gave her my _______ trust, only to be hurt in the end.
- Trust is a _______ street, so both of us need to be honest.
- My brother is a _______ pair of hands—I’d trust him with anything.
- They told me the news straight from the _______ mouth.
- I took a big _______ of faith by applying for the job.
- We’re always on the same _______, so I know I can count on her.
- Even though I was scared, I decided to _______ my gut and say yes.
Answers:
heart-to-heart, under your hat, word, blind, two-way, safe, horse’s, leap, wavelength, trust
Conclusion
Trust isn’t just a word—it’s a foundation, a feeling, and something that takes work to build and protect. These idioms don’t just help you talk about trust more clearly—they help you feel it more deeply, recognize it in others, and use it wisely in everyday life.
The more you use these expressions in your writing, conversations, and relationships, the more natural they’ll feel. And who knows? Maybe you’ll even become someone others trust to teach them what these idioms really mean, too.