From the people we love to the ones who drive us completely mad—family and friends are a cornerstone of daily life, and British English has an idiom for almost every type of relationship.
Whether you've just hit it off with a new mate or you're dealing with the black sheep of the family, using the right idiom can make your English sound instantly more natural and fluent.
Here are 20 essential friends and family idioms you'll actually hear in everyday conversations in the UK. We've included clear meanings and natural examples, so you can steal a few for your next chat or reunion!
20 Friends & Family Idioms
hit it off
became friends very quickly
We hit it off immediately at the party.
drift apart
slowly become less friendly or close to each other
They were best friends in school, but they drifted apart over time.
get off on the wrong foot
started our relationship badly
I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot; can we start over...
fair-weather friend
a friend who deserts you when you have difficulties
I realized he was just a fair-weather friend when I lost my job.
mutual friend
a shared friend of two people
We met through a mutual friend at a wedding.
kept in touch
continued to be in contact with
We've kept in touch for over twenty years.
made friends with
became friends with
She quickly made friends with her new coworkers.
soulmate
the perfect person to be a friend or partner
After years of searching, he finally found his soulmate.
lose touch with
no longer being in contact with
I've lost touch with most of my old school friends.
flesh and blood
close family, such as parents, sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters
I have to help him; he's my own flesh and blood.
family heirloom
an object that has been passed down through generations
This ring is a family heirloom from my great-grandmother.
black sheep of the family
someone who brings shame or is the odd one in the family
My uncle was the black sheep of the family.
extended family
wider family, such as grandparents, cousins, nephews, and nieces
We invited our entire extended family to the reunion.
upbringing
teaching a child how to behave
His strict upbringing made him very disciplined.
run in the family
is a common feature in our family
Musical talent seems to run in the family.
spitting image
almost identical to
He's the spitting image of his father.
dead ringer
looks extremely similar
That guy is a dead ringer for a famous actor.
two peas in a pod
extremely similar to each other
Those two brothers are like two peas in a pod.
the apple of my eye
a person I am very fond or proud of
His youngest daughter is the apple of his eye.
a shoulder to cry on
a sympathetic and supportive person
She's always been a good shoulder to cry on when things go wrong.
How to Use These Like a Pro
A quick word of advice: Many of these idioms are informal and playful, making them perfect for chats with people you know well. They can range from incredibly warm (like soulmate or the apple of my eye) to a bit cheeky or even savage (looking at you, black sheep).
If you're not entirely sure about the context yet, stick to safe, natural staples like we hit it off and we kept in touch. And remember, calling someone a fair-weather friend as a joke down the pub is fine, but maybe avoid saying it to your boss!
For even more related language, be sure to check out our Family Vocabulary guide.
Now go out there and sound natural, confident, and just the right amount of British!