a fair-weather friend
fair-weather friend
Someone who remains a friend only when things are going well but abandons others during times of trouble or difficulty. I thought Allison and I had a strong friendship, but I learned she was just another fair-weather friend when she stopped talking to me after my divorce.
See also: friend
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
a fair-weather friend
someone who cannot be relied on in a crisis. 1998 Spectator The Americans gave up supplying gold on demand to other countries' central banks at £35 an ounce…when their fair-weather friends from London threatened to turn up and clean them out.
See also: friend
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
a ˌfair-weather ˈfriend
(disapproving) somebody who is only a friend when it is pleasant for them, and stops being a friend when you are in trouble: I really thought she’d be here to help me, but it seems that she’s just a fair-weather friend.See also: friend
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- fair-weather friend
- fairweather
- fair-weather
- a walking disaster
- save (one's) own skin
- save skin
- heaping Pelion upon Ossa
- half the trouble of (something)
- save someone's skin
- on red alert