He's a good friend that speaks well of us behind our backs.
Meaning: True friendship reveals itself in loyalty when no personal gain or flattery is possible.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Communication
- We shall lie all alike in our graves. — Death's finality erases all earthly distinctions of wealth, status, and achievement betwe…
- "Hardly ever" saves many a lie. — Silence prevents false claims by avoiding the need to explain or justify hasty words.
- What the heart thinketh, the tongue speaketh. — Unguarded speech reveals our true thoughts and character; we cannot conceal our inner nat…
- Many a true word is spoken in jest. — Humor provides cover for uncomfortable truths that people avoid stating seriously.
- Judge not a ship as she lies on the stocks. — Don't evaluate a vessel's true worth until it's launched and tested at sea.
- He tied a knot with his tongue he couldn't undo with his teeth. — Careless words spoken in haste create consequences far harder to retract than they were t…
From our idioms
- mandare giù — To accept or tolerate something unwillingly, often swallowing one's pride or doubts.
- con beneficio d'inventario — To accept something with skepticism or reservations, not at face value.
- perdere il filo — To lose one's train of thought or become confused about a subject during conversation or…