Idioms are special phrases that mean something different from their actual words. People use them to make conversation more colorful, fun, and expressive. In this article, you will learn fifty different idioms that all relate to having a partner in crime or a close buddy.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean a trusted friend or close helper. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Partner in Crime
1. Ride or die
Definition: A loyal friend who will support you through any situation no matter what.
Used in a Sentence: My best friend is my ride or die when we play video games together. / She proved she was my ride or die by helping me study all night.
Similar Expressions: Loyal pal / Devoted buddy
2. Two peas in a pod
Definition: Two people who are very similar to each other or spend all their time together.
Used in a Sentence: Sam and his brother are two peas in a pod because they both love soccer. / The new twins in our class act like two peas in a pod.
Similar Expressions: Cut from the same cloth / Birds of a feather
3. Right hand man
Definition: A most trusted and helpful assistant or companion.
Used in a Sentence: Mark is the teacher’s right hand man when it comes to passing out papers. / My older sister is my right hand man in the kitchen.
Similar Expressions: Chief helper / Trusted assistant
4. Thick as thieves
Definition: Being extremely close and sharing secrets with someone.
Used in a Sentence: Those two puppies are as thick as thieves and hide shoes together. / Sarah and her cousin became as thick as thieves during summer camp.
Similar Expressions: Inseparable friends / Close companions
5. Bird of a feather
Definition: People who have similar interests or personalities and enjoy hanging out.
Used in a Sentence: Since they both love drawing, they are birds of a feather. / John and his lab partner are birds of a feather in science class.
Similar Expressions: Kindred spirit / Likeminded pal
6. Sidekick
Definition: A close companion who usually helps or follows a leading person.
Used in a Sentence: Every superhero needs a trusty sidekick to save the day. / My little dog acts like my sidekick when I walk to the park.
Similar Expressions: Junior helper / Companion mate
7. Bosom buddy
Definition: A very close and dear friend whom you trust completely.
Used in a Sentence: Anna and Lily have been bosom buddies since kindergarten. / He tells all his secrets to his bosom buddy.
Similar Expressions: Close confidant / Dearest friend
8. Man Friday
Definition: A male personal assistant or helper who is exceptionally loyal.
Used in a Sentence: The store owner relied on his Man Friday to open the shop every morning. / He acts as his grandfather’s Man Friday on the farm.
Similar Expressions: Loyal helper / Dependable aide
9. Girl Friday
Definition: A female assistant who can handle many different tasks capably.
Used in a Sentence: Jane is the office Girl Friday who organizes all the community events. / My mom is our household Girl Friday because she fixes everything.
Similar Expressions: Versatile helper / Able assistant
10. Cohort
Definition: A companion or associate with whom you spend a lot of time.
Used in a Sentence: Leo and his cohort built an amazing fort in the backyard. / She brought her usual cohort along to the school dance.
Similar Expressions: Close associate / Fellow companion
11. Accomplice
Definition: Someone who helps another person do something mischievous or fun.
Used in a Sentence: My brother was my accomplice when we ate dessert before dinner. / Who was your accomplice in building that huge snow sculpture?
Similar Expressions: Co-conspirator / Helper in mischief
12. Main squeeze
Definition: A primary romantic partner or very special best friend.
Used in a Sentence: He always brings his main squeeze to the family picnics. / She treats her golden retriever like her main squeeze.
Similar Expressions: Primary partner / Special friend
13. Soul mate
Definition: A person ideally suited to another as a close friend or partner.
Used in a Sentence: The two puppies found each other and became instant soul mates. / She considers her twin sister her lifelong soul mate.
Similar Expressions: Kindred soul / Perfect match
14. Partner in crime
Definition: A close friend who joins you in adventures or playful trouble.
Used in a Sentence: My cousin is my partner in crime whenever we visit grandma’s house. / We became partners in crime during our art class pranks.
Similar Expressions: Mischief maker / Adventure buddy
15. Best buddy
Definition: Your favorite person to spend time and play games with.
Used in a Sentence: Tom is my best buddy on the basketball court. / Every afternoon, I walk home with my best buddy.
Similar Expressions: Best friend / Pal supreme
16. Running mate
Definition: A companion who joins you in an activity or race.
Used in a Sentence: Mia chose her best friend as her running mate for the student council election. / We are running mates in the upcoming school relay race.
Similar Expressions: Campaign buddy / Team partner
17. Close ally
Definition: A friend who supports you and stands by your side during challenges.
Used in a Sentence: During the group project, Anna proved to be a close ally. / We became close allies after working on the school play together.
Similar Expressions: Supportive friend / Loyal teammate
18. Dear friend
Definition: A person whom you care about deeply and trust entirely.
Used in a Sentence: She wrote a nice letter to thank her dear friend for the gift. / He introduced his dear friend to the rest of the club.
Similar Expressions: Valued companion / Trusted mate
19. Friendly shadow
Definition: Someone who stays close behind you and goes wherever you go.
Used in a Sentence: My little brother acts like a friendly shadow when I play outside. / The kitten became my friendly shadow all through the afternoon.
Similar Expressions: Constant companion / Loyal follower
20. Trusted cohort
Definition: An associate you rely on to keep secrets and help you out.
Used in a Sentence: I told my trusted cohort about my secret clubhouse plan. / He shared his lunch ideas with his trusted cohort.
Similar Expressions: Reliable peer / Trusted helper
21. Playmate
Definition: A friend with whom you share fun games and outdoor activities.
Used in a Sentence: The new neighbor boy quickly became my favorite playmate. / We searched the neighborhood for our usual afternoon playmates.
Similar Expressions: Play companion / Game buddy
22. Confidant
Definition: A trusted person you can tell your private thoughts and secrets to.
Used in a Sentence: My diary acts as my silent confidant for all my feelings. / She is my main confidant when I have a problem at school.
Similar Expressions: Trusted listener / Secret keeper
23. Cohabitant in fun
Definition: Someone who shares your living space or joyful activities.
Used in a Sentence: My roommate at summer camp was my cohabitant in fun. / We were cohabitants in fun during the long holiday break.
Similar Expressions: Fun sharer / Activity partner
24. Fellow traveler
Definition: Someone sharing the same journey, goals, or life experiences.
Used in a Sentence: We met another fellow traveler on the museum field trip. / He found a fellow traveler who also loved reading fantasy books.
Similar Expressions: Journey partner / Shared path mate
25. True blue
Definition: A person who is completely loyal and faithful to their friends.
Used in a Sentence: My friend Tim is true blue because he never breaks a promise. / You can always count on a true blue pal in hard times.
Similar Expressions: Loyal friend / Faithful buddy
26. Right hand
Definition: The most important helper who makes tasks much easier.
Used in a Sentence: The club president chose her right hand to run the bake sale. / Dad calls me his right hand when we wash the car.
Similar Expressions: Chief assistant / Prime helper
27. Comrade
Definition: A companion who shares your activities, work, or team goals.
Used in a Sentence: We waved to our fellow comrades on the camping trip. / The chess players treated each other like friendly comrades.
Similar Expressions: Team member / Fellow worker
28. Mate
Definition: A friendly term for a close companion or school friend.
Used in a Sentence: Pass the basketball to my mate on the left side. / He invited his school mate over to build Lego sets.
Similar Expressions: Friend / Companion
29. Pal
Definition: A friendly companion whom you enjoy spending time with daily.
Used in a Sentence: Thanks for helping me carry my books, old pal. / We have been pals since we shared a sandbox in preschool.
Similar Expressions: Buddy / Friend
30. Chum
Definition: A close childhood friend or pleasant companion.
Used in a Sentence: My old school chum came over to play video games. / We were cheerful chums all through elementary school.
Similar Expressions: Childhood friend / Close buddy
31. Teammate
Definition: Someone who works with you on a group goal or sports team.
Used in a Sentence: My teammate passed me the soccer ball just in time. / Every good teammate helps clean up after practice.
Similar Expressions: Group partner / Sport companion
32. Co-worker in mischief
Definition: A person who helps you pull off harmless jokes or fun schemes.
Used in a Sentence: My sister was my co-worker in mischief when we hid the alarm clock. / We acted as co-workers in mischief during the April Fools party.
Similar Expressions: Mischief partner / Joke helper
33. Brother in arms
Definition: A close companion who faces challenges or difficulties right beside you.
Used in a Sentence: We felt like brothers in arms while studying for the hard math test. / The two hikers were brothers in arms against the cold rain.
Similar Expressions: Struggle buddy / Battle companion
34. Sister in spirit
Definition: A female friend with whom you share a deep mental and emotional connection.
Used in a Sentence: Even though they live far apart, they are sisters in spirit. / She found a sister in spirit who loved the same music.
Similar Expressions: Spiritual sister / Kindred friend
35. Homeboy
Definition: A close friend from your neighborhood or hometown.
Used in a Sentence: My old homeboy came to visit me at my new school. / We grew up on the same street like a group of homeboys.
Similar Expressions: Neighborhood pal / Local buddy
36. Close associate
Definition: Someone you work closely with on daily tasks or school projects.
Used in a Sentence: He is a close associate of mine on the school newspaper. / We chose each other as close associates for the science fair.
Similar Expressions: Work partner / Project buddy
37. Cohort in chaos
Definition: A friend who joins you when things get loud, messy, and fun.
Used in a Sentence: My dog is my cohort in chaos when the pillows get thrown around. / We were cohorts in chaos during the pillow fight.
Similar Expressions: Mess buddy / Wild partner
38. Co-conspirator
Definition: Someone who helps you plan a secret surprise or fun plot.
Used in a Sentence: My mom was my co-conspirator for dad’s surprise birthday party. / We needed a co-conspirator to pull off the classroom trick.
Similar Expressions: Plot helper / Secret partner
39. Constant companion
Definition: Someone who is almost always by your side everywhere you go.
Used in a Sentence: Her stuffed bear is her constant companion at bedtime. / My cat is my constant companion while I do homework.
Similar Expressions: Ever-present friend / Loyal shadow
40. Shadow
Definition: A friend who follows you closely everywhere you walk or run.
Used in a Sentence: Little kids at camp love to act like your shadow. / My puppy became my shadow during the summer vacation.
Similar Expressions: Closely trailing pal / Follower buddy
41. Twin soul
Definition: A friend who thinks and feels just like you do.
Used in a Sentence: Finding a twin soul in middle school made everything easier. / They share a twin soul connection through their artwork.
Similar Expressions: Kindred mind / Matching spirit
42. Familiar face
Definition: A friendly person you are always happy to see in a crowd.
Used in a Sentence: It was nice to see a familiar face on my first day at the new school. / My neighbor was a familiar face at the community center.
Similar Expressions: Friendly sight / Known companion
43. Partner
Definition: A person who shares an activity, game, or project with you.
Used in a Sentence: Choose a partner for the gym class obstacle course. / My lab partner helped me measure the liquids correctly.
Similar Expressions: Collaborator / Teammate
44. Helper bee
Definition: A busy friend who cheerfully helps you finish your chores.
Used in a Sentence: My little sister acted like a helper bee while cleaning my room. / We were helper bees getting the classroom ready for fall.
Similar Expressions: Busy assistant / Hardworking pal
45. Side-by-side buddy
Definition: A friend who walks right next to you through every adventure.
Used in a Sentence: We walked side-by-side buddies down the parade route. / My dog and I are side-by-side buddies on our hikes.
Similar Expressions: Close walking mate / Parallel friend
46. Lifelong pal
Definition: A friend you expect to keep and cherish for your whole life.
Used in a Sentence: My grandpa and his childhood friend remained lifelong pals. / We promised to be lifelong pals no matter what school we attend.
Similar Expressions: Eternal friend / Forever buddy
47. Partner in play
Definition: Someone who joins you for games, sports, and recreational fun.
Used in a Sentence: My cousin is my favorite partner in play during the holidays. / We looked for our partners in play at the recess bell.
Similar Expressions: Recess buddy / Game partner
48. Fellow helper
Definition: Another person who pitches in to make a tough job easier.
Used in a Sentence: Thanks to my fellow helper, we finished raking leaves in an hour. / He was a wonderful fellow helper at the food drive.
Similar Expressions: Co-assistant / Joint helper
49. Joined at the hip
Definition: Two friends who spend almost all their time together.
Used in a Sentence: Those two girls are joined at the hip when they visit the mall. / My cat and dog are joined at the hip when sleeping on the rug.
Similar Expressions: Inseparable pair / Very close duo
50. Best mate
Definition: Your primary and most cherished friend in the whole world.
Used in a Sentence: I told my best mate all about my favorite new movie. / He went camping with his best mate over the weekend.
Similar Expressions: Top friend / Dearest pal
Exercise to Practice
- True blue means a person who is completely loyal and faithful to their friends.
- Two peas in a pod means you hate someone and never want to see them.
- Ride or die refers to a loyal friend who will support you through any situation.
- A sidekick is a leader of a large company who gives orders from a desk.
- Thick as thieves means being extremely close and sharing secrets with someone.
- A bosom buddy is a pet animal that lives outside in the doghouse.
- An accomplice is someone who helps another person do something mischievous or fun.
- Joined at the hip describes two friends who spend almost all their time together.
- A main squeeze is a sour fruit you squeeze into water for breakfast.
- Your shadow is a friend who follows you closely everywhere you walk.
- A partner in crime is a police officer who catches people breaking laws.
- A bosom buddy is a very close and dear friend whom you trust completely.
- Birds of a feather are mechanical birds that fly high up in the sky.
- A helper bee is a busy friend who cheerfully helps you finish your chores.
- A lifelong pal is a friend you expect to keep and cherish for your whole life.
Answer Key
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
Conclusion
Learning these idioms helps you describe your friendships and fun adventures in colorful new ways. You can use them when talking about your classmates, siblings, or favorite teammates. Try using one of these expressions today when you talk to your best friend or play a game together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the idiom partner in crime mean?
It means a close friend or companion who joins you in adventures, playful mischief, or daily activities. It rarely has anything to do with actual illegal actions in everyday speech.
Can you use partner in crime for a best friend?
Yes, people often use it to describe their closest buddy or sibling whom they spend a lot of time with. It is a warm and friendly way to show appreciation for a strong bond.
What are some other expressions similar to partner in crime?
Common expressions include ride or die, two peas in a pod, and joined at the hip. All of these phrases highlight strong friendship and teamwork.
Are these idioms okay to use at school?
Yes, all of these idioms are fun, polite, and great to use in school essays or conversations with friends. They add flavor and creativity to your writing.
Why do people use idioms about friends?
Idioms make language more interesting and help paint a clearer picture of how close people are. Instead of just saying you have a friend, an idiom explains the special bond you share.
