IdiomNatureEnglish

fair-weather friend

Meaning: A person who is loyal in good times but not when times are difficult.

Example: “When I lost my job, I found out who my fair-weather friends were.”

Origin: "Fair weather" has stood for good times since at least the 17th century, and sailors knew which companions stayed only while the sea was calm. "Fair-weather friend" for someone who disappears in hard times is recorded from the 18th century.

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