50 Idioms About Fake Friends With Meanings & Sentences
Idioms About Fake Friends
1. Wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: A person who appears friendly but is actually dangerous or dishonest.
In a Sentence: Be careful of him; he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Other Ways to Say: Deceiver, Hidden enemy
2. Backstabber
Meaning: A person who betrays someone secretly.
In a Sentence: Mia trusted Tom, but he turned out to be a backstabber.
Other Ways to Say: Someone who betrays trust, A traitor
3. Two-faced
Meaning: Someone who says one thing but does another behind your back.
In a Sentence: I can’t trust her anymore—she’s too two-faced.
Other Ways to Say: Hypocrite, Deceptive person
4. Snake in the grass
Meaning: Someone who seems harmless but is secretly untrustworthy.
In a Sentence: Mark turned out to be a snake in the grass, spreading rumors.
Other Ways to Say: A sneaky person, Someone with hidden motives
5. Fair-weather friend
Meaning: A friend who is only there when things are good.
In a Sentence: He vanished when I lost my job—a real fair-weather friend.
Other Ways to Say: Temporary friend, Unreliable companion
6. Talking behind someone’s back
Meaning: Gossiping or saying bad things when the person isn’t present.
In a Sentence: I found out she was talking behind my back the whole time.
Other Ways to Say: Gossiping, Betraying
7. Throw under the bus
Meaning: To betray someone for personal gain.
In a Sentence: He threw me under the bus just to impress the boss.
Other Ways to Say: Betray, Sell out
8. Judas kiss
Meaning: A betrayal disguised as kindness.
In a Sentence: Her smile was nothing but a Judas kiss.
Other Ways to Say: Deceitful gesture, Fake affection
9. Stab in the back
Meaning: A deep betrayal by someone close.
In a Sentence: Losing that promotion felt like a stab in the back.
Other Ways to Say: Sudden betrayal, Unseen treachery
10. Blow hot and cold
Meaning: Be inconsistent in friendship or loyalty.
In a Sentence: He keeps blowing hot and cold—I never know where I stand.
Other Ways to Say: Moody, Unreliable
11. Pull the wool over your eyes
Meaning: To deceive someone.
In a Sentence: I can’t believe I let her pull the wool over my eyes.
Other Ways to Say: Fool someone, Mislead
12. Smile to your face, stab your back
Meaning: Pretend to be friendly but secretly betray you.
In a Sentence: She smiled at me all day but was planning to get me fired.
Other Ways to Say: Pretender, Hidden enemy
13. Fake it till you make it (in relationships)
Meaning: Pretending to care when you really don’t.
In a Sentence: He faked being a good friend just to stay in the group.
Other Ways to Say: Pretending, Acting nice
14. Playing both sides
Meaning: Supporting opposing people or views to stay liked by both.
In a Sentence: He was clearly playing both sides in the argument.
Other Ways to Say: Double dealer, Fence-sitter
15. Wearing a mask
Meaning: Hiding one’s true feelings or intentions.
In a Sentence: She’s always wearing a mask—you never know her real thoughts.
Other Ways to Say: Hiding identity, Pretending
16. Wolf in the pack
Meaning: A dangerous person within a trusted group.
In a Sentence: There’s always that one wolf in the pack waiting to attack.
Other Ways to Say: Internal enemy, Betrayer
17. Sweet talker
Meaning: Someone who uses charm to deceive.
In a Sentence: Don’t trust his words—he’s just a sweet talker.
Other Ways to Say: Manipulator, Smooth liar
18. Shadow friend
Meaning: Only follows you but never supports you.
In a Sentence: He’s just a shadow friend—always around but never helping.
Other Ways to Say: Fake support, Passive companion
19. Lip service
Meaning: Saying supportive words but not meaning them.
In a Sentence: She offered lip service during tough times and vanished later.
Other Ways to Say: Empty words, False sympathy
20. Just along for the ride
Meaning: Someone who sticks around for the benefits only.
In a Sentence: I realized he was just along for the ride after the money ran out.
Other Ways to Say: Opportunist, Tag-along
21. Two-faced
Meaning: Someone who acts friendly but speaks badly behind your back.
In a Sentence: I thought she was my friend, but she’s just two-faced. / You can’t trust someone so two-faced.
Other Ways to Say: Hypocrite, Double-dealer
22. Judas kiss
Meaning: A betrayal disguised as an act of friendship.
In a Sentence: His support turned out to be a Judas kiss. / Beware of the Judas kiss from fake friends.
Other Ways to Say: Deceptive act, False loyalty
23. Talk behind your back
Meaning: Gossiping or speaking negatively about someone when they’re not around.
In a Sentence: I heard she talks behind my back all the time. / Fake friends love to talk behind your back.
Other Ways to Say: Gossip, Badmouth
24. Stab you in the back
Meaning: To betray someone unexpectedly or secretly.
In a Sentence: He stabbed me in the back after pretending to support me. / Fake friends always stab you in the back.
Other Ways to Say: Betray, Double-cross
25. Smile to your face and hate behind your back
Meaning: Pretending to like someone while secretly disliking or plotting against them.
In a Sentence: She always smiled to my face and hated behind my back. / That’s how fake friends behave — friendly outside, cruel inside.
Other Ways to Say: Pretender, Two-faced person
26. With friends like these, who needs enemies?
Meaning: Said when friends treat you badly or betray you.
In a Sentence: She embarrassed me in front of everyone— with friends like these, who needs enemies?
Other Ways to Say: Fake support, Unkind friend
27. Stabbed in the back
Meaning: Betrayed by someone you trusted.
In a Sentence: I was stabbed in the back by my own teammate.
Other Ways to Say: Betrayed, Deceived
28. Two-faced
Meaning: Someone who acts nice in front of you but speaks badly behind your back.
In a Sentence: I thought she was genuine, but she’s totally two-faced.
Other Ways to Say: Hypocrite, Double-dealer
29. Fair-weather friend
Meaning: A person who’s only around during good times.
In a Sentence: He disappeared when I was struggling—just a fair-weather friend.
Other Ways to Say: Conditional friend, Disloyal companion
30. Talking behind your back
Meaning: Saying bad things about someone when they’re not around.
In a Sentence: I found out they were talking behind my back the whole time.
Other Ways to Say: Gossiping, Backbiting
31. Wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Someone who appears friendly but has bad intentions.
In a Sentence: Don’t trust him—he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Other Ways to Say: Pretender, Hidden danger
32. Throw you under the bus
Meaning: To betray someone to save oneself.
In a Sentence: She threw me under the bus just to impress the manager.
Other Ways to Say: Betray, Sacrifice someone
33. Fake it till you make it
Meaning: Pretending to be something you’re not, often misleading.
In a Sentence: He acts sincere, but he’s just faking it till he makes it.
Other Ways to Say: Pretending, Not genuine
34. Blow hot and cold
Meaning: Being inconsistent in behavior or support.
In a Sentence: He blows hot and cold—one minute he’s supportive, the next he’s distant.
Other Ways to Say: Moody, Unreliable
35. Pulling the wool over someone’s eyes
Meaning: To deceive or trick someone.
In a Sentence: I trusted him, but he was just pulling the wool over my eyes.
Other Ways to Say: Mislead, Fool someone
36. Show true colors
Meaning: Reveal one’s real character, usually negative.
In a Sentence: When she didn’t get her way, she showed her true colors.
Other Ways to Say: Reveal real self, Expose
37. Wearing a mask
Meaning: Hiding one’s true feelings or intentions.
In a Sentence: He’s always smiling, but I feel like he’s just wearing a mask.
Other Ways to Say: Pretending, Hiding true face
38. Playing both sides
Meaning: Supporting two opposing groups for personal gain.
In a Sentence: She was playing both sides to avoid conflict but ended up being caught.
Other Ways to Say: Double agent, Fence-sitter
39. Not who they seem to be
Meaning: Pretending to be something they’re not.
In a Sentence: I realized he’s not who he seemed to be once things got tough.
Other Ways to Say: Fake identity, Disguised character
40. Smile in your face, talk behind your back
Meaning: Pretend to be nice but gossip behind your back.
In a Sentence: That guy smiles in your face but talks behind your back constantly.
Other Ways to Say: Fake friend, Two-faced
41. Sugarcoat the truth
Meaning: Hide harsh truth to seem nicer.
In a Sentence: She sugarcoated her betrayal, acting like it was for my benefit.
Other Ways to Say: Soften the blow, Cover up
42. Keep you close for advantage
Meaning: Befriend someone only to use them.
In a Sentence: I felt like he only kept me close for his own advantage.
Other Ways to Say: Manipulative friendship, Opportunist
43. Puppet master
Meaning: Secretly controlling others.
In a Sentence: I found out she was the puppet master behind all the drama.
Other Ways to Say: Manipulator, Behind the scenes
44. Biting the hand that feeds you
Meaning: Turning against someone who helped you.
In a Sentence: He bit the hand that fed him by betraying his mentor.
Other Ways to Say: Ungrateful, Backstabber
45. Hidden agenda
Meaning: Secret selfish motive.
In a Sentence: I think she’s being kind because she has a hidden agenda.
Other Ways to Say: Ulterior motive, Secret plan
46. Playing the victim
Meaning: Pretending to be innocent while being at fault.
In a Sentence: She caused the problem but kept playing the victim.
Other Ways to Say: Blame-shifting, Manipulation
47. The mask slipped
Meaning: Someone accidentally showed their true nature.
In a Sentence: His mask slipped during the argument, and everyone saw his real side.
Other Ways to Say: Reveal character, True face shown
48. Just along for the ride
Meaning: Not truly involved or supportive.
In a Sentence: I thought she cared, but she was just along for the ride.
Other Ways to Say: Detached, Not loyal
49. Empty promises
Meaning: Saying things to please, with no intention of following through.
In a Sentence: I was fooled by all his empty promises.
Other Ways to Say: False assurance, Dishonest words
50. Cold shoulder
Meaning: Ignoring someone intentionally.
In a Sentence: After using me, she gave me the cold shoulder.
Other Ways to Say: Silent treatment, Ignore
