thick as thieves
Meaning: Very close friends who share secrets.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The two grandmothers are thick as thieves.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: "Thick" has meant intimate since the 18th century, and thieves must trust each other. The comparison is found from the early 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Spanish: Ser uña y carne — literally: To be fingernail and flesh
- Portuguese: unha e carne — literally: fingernail and flesh
- French: S'entendre comme larrons en foire — literally: To get on like thieves at a fair
More idioms — Daily Life
- a whole different ball game — A completely different situation.
- not mince one's words — To speak frankly, even bluntly.
- thick and fast — Rapidly and in large numbers.
- one thing led to another — A series of events happened, each causing the next, often with a hint that something emba…
- the end justifies the means — A good result excuses any way of achieving it.
- sweet-talk — To persuade someone with flattery.
More English idioms
- separate the wheat from the chaff — To distinguish what is valuable from what is worthless.
- elbow grease — Hard physical work, especially scrubbing or polishing.
- have a heavy heart — To feel sad or burdened.
- in one's heart of hearts — In one's deepest private feelings.
- promise the moon — To promise something impossible to deliver.
- Indian summer — A period of warm weather in autumn; also a late, happy period in life.