Fair-weather friend

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WotD: Fair-weather friend

A fair-weather friend is someone who is only your friend when things are going well.

When you have problems, are in trouble, or need support, a fair-weather friend is nowhere to be found.

This phrase comes from the idea of “fair weather,” which means nice or good weather.

You don’t often see the sun on a stormy day.

So, a fair-weather friend is only around when everything is easy and pleasant.

Well, with a fair-weather friend, when the going gets tough, the fair-weather friend is gone.

Let’s look at how we use this phrase.

Imagine you have a friend who enjoys spending time with you when you are happy and successful.

But when you face difficulties, this person is suddenly too busy or not interested in helping you.

This person is a fair-weather friend.

True friends stand by us in both good times and bad.

A fair-weather friend, however, only enjoys the good times.

It can be disappointing to learn that someone is a fair-weather friend.

I used to work for a Lebanese man in Vancouver, Canada, during my UBC days.

He used to say to me that when the money jingles in your pocket, everyone is your friend, but when the jingle is gone, so are the people.

Those are fair-weather friends.

They only ride when you’re paying for the gas, they only drink when on your tab, and they’re only hungry when it’s your shout.

Be aware of fair-weather friends who are with you only when life is easy.

Knowing the difference between a true friend and a fair-weather friend is important.

Try to be the kind of friend who sticks with others in both fair and stormy weather!

This post is understandable by someone with at least a 7th-grade education (age 12).

The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.