Meaning of ‘a Friend In Need is a Friend Indeed’
Note: There is some ambiguity as to what exactly the idiom ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’ means. The most common definition is listed below:
If someone is going through a challenging time and needs help, a true friend will be there to support them. Because they provide support at such a critical time, they show themselves to be a real friend.
Good friends will be there to help even in difficult times.
The Origin Of ‘A Friend In Need Is a Friend Indeed’
It’s nice to have friends, especially when they are reliable. Unfortunately, being dependable is not everyone’s strength. Indeed, and some people might not even be there at times when they’re needed most! Let’s consider an example:
Anna is a diligent worker, but she’s currently struggling financially. She’s in the process of finding a job, but hasn’t landed on her feet yet. She’s having trouble paying the bills at this time, and even affording food has become a major issue. What can she do during this difficult time in her life? She reluctantly turns to her friends, Brenda and Cassie, for help. They both have extra money to spare, but only Brenda was willing to spare any cash. Cassie, on the other hand, makes up an excuse on why she couldn’t help.
Based on what we know about the two friends, who supported Anna in her time of need? Yes, it was Brenda who proved to be ‘a friend indeed.’ Basically, this expression means that true friends will be there not just during the easier times, but the difficult times as well, whereas fake friends will not.
So what is the origin the idiom ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’? The idea of this phrase has been around for thousands of years. For example, a Roman poet named Quintus Ennius who lived in the 2nd century B.C.E. wrote (when translated from Latin):
“A sure friend is known in unsure times.”
As for the idiom itself, the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations says the phrase has existed since the 11th century. So it looks like it is quite old.
Example Sentences
- While I was sick in bed, my friend Susan went to the store and bought me some much needed supplies. As the idiom goes, ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed.’
- When my mother passed away, it hit me hard. I grieved for a long time, but on the days that were especially difficult, Julie was there to comfort me. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
- I lost some important data after my laptop malfunctioned. My friend knew how crucial this data was to me, so he came over and spent the entire day helping me recover it. As the saying goes, a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Related Idioms:
If you’re interested in more idioms that start with the letter A, check out our Idioms and Phrases Starting with A page.