Fair Weather Friend: Meaning and Definitions
- A “fair weather friend” refers to a person who is only a friend when circumstances are pleasant or profitable, but abandons others during difficult times.
- It often suggests someone who is unreliable, inconsistent, and has a self-serving nature.
- A fair weather friendship implies that the friendship cannot be relied upon in times of difficulty.
- It might also depict a person who only offers friendship when it is convenient or beneficial to them.
- Furthermore, it may convey the idea of superficial or conditional friendship.
Fair Weather Friend Synonyms
- Summer friend
- Sunshine soldier
- Sunshine patriot
Example Sentences
- She proved to be a fair weather friend when she stopped calling me after I lost my job.
- It’s better to have a few true friends than many fair weather friends.
- He felt disappointed when he discovered that his college buddies were just fair weather friends.
- During tough times, you find out who your real friends are and who are the fair weather friends.
- She was known for being a fair weather friend, always around during the good times but nowhere to be found in times of trouble.
The Origins and Etymology of Fair Weather Friend
The phrase “fair weather friend” has been used since the late 16th century to refer to someone who is friendly only when it is easy or convenient to do so.
The term “fair weather” is an old nautical term which refers to good weather, with the implication being that a fair weather friend is only around during good times.
You can read more about it on Wiktionary.
“Fair Weather Friend” in Literature
In literature, the term “fair weather friend” is often used to characterize unreliable or fickle characters.
One example can be found in Charles Dickens’ novel ‘The Pickwick Papers’, where he writes:
“He has been a sort of friend of mine, once or twice… One of those fair-weather friends who always abound when a man is rich, and never when he is poor.”
