friendship

a hedge between keeps friendship green

proverb Friendships are more likely to be successful when there is a level of space and privacy between the friends. The reason their friendship has lasted as long as it has is because they respect each other's privacy. A hedge between keeps friendship green.
See also: between, friendship, green, hedge, keep

friendship with benefits

A friendship or acquaintance in which the partners engage in casual sexual activity but are not in a formal, committed relationship with one another. After two long, ultimately painful relationships, I'm just looking for friendship with benefits these days.
See also: benefit, friendship

strike up

1. To initiate, instigate, or begin something. I saw you striking up a conversation with Jack—what did you two discuss? You might be able to strike up a deal with her if you mention your father's connection to the business. The detective and the con man struck up a unique friendship.
2. Of a band, to begin playing music. Can be used transitively or intransitively. The band struck up and got everyone dancing. Come on, boys, let's strike up a tune that'll really get this place hopping!
See also: strike, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

A hedge between keeps friendship green.

Prov. Your friendship will flourish if you and your friend respect each other's privacy. Lynne and I are the best of friends, but we often like to spend time apart. A hedge between keeps friendship green.
See also: between, friendship, green, hedge, keep

strike something up

to begin something; to cause something to begin. (Typically, the playing of a band, a conversation, or a friendship.) We tried to strike a conversation up—to no avail. I struck up a conversation with Molly.
See also: strike, up

strike up a friendship

to become friends (with someone). I struck up a friendship with John while we were on a business trip together. If you're lonely, you should go out and try to strike up a friendship with someone you like.
See also: friendship, strike, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

strike up

v.
1. To initiate or begin some conversation or relationship: They often see each other on the bus, but neither of them ever strikes up a conversation. My best friend and I struck it up while working together in the Peace Corps.
2. To reach some agreement: You might be able to get a discount if you strike up a deal with the storekeeper.
3. To start to play or sing something: A few of the musicians struck up a waltz. Everybody got up to dance once the band struck up.
4. To cause something to start to play or sing: Strike up the orchestra and let the celebration begin!
See also: strike, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • teach a man to fish
  • it takes a village
  • village
  • best-laid plans go astray, the
  • the best-laid plans
  • the best-laid plans go astray
  • the best-laid plans of mice and men
  • for want of a nail
  • For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse ...
  • bad habits die hard
References in classic literature
The second fruit of friendship, is healthful and sovereign for the understanding, as the first is for the affections.
Add now, to make this second fruit of friendship complete, that other point, which lieth more open, and falleth within vulgar observation; which is faithful counsel from a friend.
The Essays
The higher the style we demand of friendship, of course the less easy to establish it with flesh and blood.
It has seemed to me lately more possible than I knew, to carry a friendship greatly, on one side, without due correspondence on the other.
Essays First Series
"'Hans, I am surprised at you,' said the Miller; 'friendship never forgets.
I think that generosity is the essence of friendship, and, besides, I have got a new wheelbarrow for myself.
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
do not go away!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, impelled by one of those irresistible impulses which showed the nobility of his nature, the native brightness of his character; "I swear that I would give the last drop of my blood and the last fragment of my limbs to preserve the friendship of such a friend as you, Athos -- of such a man as you, Aramis." And he threw himself into the arms of Athos.
Twenty Years After
"Can girls then only feel friendship?" inquired Charles, taking the seat which Miss Emmerson had relinquished.
"Men, you say, are too gross to feel a pure friendship; in the first place, please to explain yourself on this point."
Imagination and Heart
This same mode of proceeding I shall have to adopt with thee, for the desire which has sprung up in thee is so absurd and remote from everything that has a semblance of reason, that I feel it would be a waste of time to employ it in reasoning with thy simplicity, for at present I will call it by no other name; and I am even tempted to leave thee in thy folly as a punishment for thy pernicious desire; but the friendship I bear thee, which will not allow me to desert thee in such manifest danger of destruction, keeps me from dealing so harshly by thee.
"Thou dost reckon me thy friend, and thou wouldst rob me of honour, a thing wholly inconsistent with friendship; and not only dost thou aim at this, but thou wouldst have me rob thee of it also.
Don Quixote
He had happened upon one of those delightful friendships without any suspicion of sex in them of which the American girl had the monopoly.
Uneasy Money
And yet he had written: "It is friendship when a man can say to himself, I love this man without respect of utility.
He wrote that as a young man, later he saw nothing in friendship beyond use.
English Literature For Boys And Girls
Having now, as he thought, balanced this little account of friendship, the captain was about to shift his saddle to this noble gift-horse when the affectionate patriarch plucked him by the sleeve, and introduced to him a whimpering, whining, leathern-skinned old squaw, that might have passed for an Egyptian mummy, without drying.
Adventures of Captain Bonneville USA in the Rocky Mountains and