IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishthick as thieves
Meaning: Very close friends who share secrets.
Example: “The two grandmothers are thick as thieves.”
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 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.
Explore another collection: False Friends
Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.
Keep exploring