50 Idioms for Supporting Someone With Meanings & Sentences
Idioms for Supporting Someone
1. Have someone’s back
Meaning: To be ready to help or protect someone.
In a Sentence: Don’t worry about the presentation—I’ll have your back if you forget anything. / Friends are supposed to have each other’s backs during tough times.
Other Ways to Say: Stand by someone, Be there for someone
2. Lend a hand
Meaning: To help someone with something.
In a Sentence: Can you lend a hand with carrying these groceries? / The teacher asked if anyone could lend a hand cleaning the classroom.
Other Ways to Say: Offer help, Pitch in
3. In someone’s corner
Meaning: To support someone in their decisions or actions.
In a Sentence: Even when no one believed in me, my sister was always in my corner.
Other Ways to Say: Rooting for, Backing someone up
4. Shoulder to cry on
Meaning: Someone who is there to offer comfort.
In a Sentence: After her breakup, Lisa really needed a shoulder to cry on.
Other Ways to Say: Emotional support, Someone to lean on
5. Go to bat for someone
Meaning: To defend or support someone.
In a Sentence: He really went to bat for his colleague during the meeting.
Other Ways to Say: Defend someone, Stick up for
6. Be there through thick and thin
Meaning: To support someone in good times and bad.
In a Sentence: True friends are the ones who stay through thick and thin.
Other Ways to Say: Loyal friend, Stand by
7. Back someone up
Meaning: To support someone’s actions or words.
In a Sentence: I need you to back me up when I talk to the boss.
Other Ways to Say: Support someone, Agree with someone
8. Stick one’s neck out
Meaning: To take a risk to help someone.
In a Sentence: He stuck his neck out to get me that job.
Other Ways to Say: Take a risk, Put yourself on the line
9. Take under one’s wing
Meaning: To guide and support someone.
In a Sentence: The manager took the intern under her wing.
Other Ways to Say: Mentor, Look after
10. Come to someone’s aid
Meaning: To help someone in need.
In a Sentence: The firefighters came to the family’s aid after the fire.
Other Ways to Say: Help out, Rescue
11. Ride or die
Meaning: Someone extremely loyal, especially during tough times.
In a Sentence: My best friend is my ride or die—always by my side.
Other Ways to Say: Loyal companion, Day-one supporter
12. Pull for someone
Meaning: To hope someone succeeds.
In a Sentence: We’re all pulling for you in the final match!
Other Ways to Say: Root for, Cheer on
13. Lend an ear
Meaning: To listen sympathetically.
In a Sentence: She always lends an ear when I need to talk.
Other Ways to Say: Listen to, Hear out
14. Root for someone
Meaning: To support someone to succeed.
In a Sentence: I’ve been rooting for you since day one.
Other Ways to Say: Cheer for, Support
15. Stick by someone
Meaning: To stay with and support someone.
In a Sentence: She stuck by him even when he lost his job.
Other Ways to Say: Stay loyal, Stand beside
16. Stand in someone’s shoes
Meaning: To understand and support by seeing their point of view.
In a Sentence: Try to stand in his shoes before judging him.
Other Ways to Say: Empathize, Understand someone
17. Be someone’s rock
Meaning: A reliable and strong source of support.
In a Sentence: My dad is my rock—always steady and strong.
Other Ways to Say: Pillar of strength, Reliable person
18. Give someone a boost
Meaning: To encourage or uplift someone.
In a Sentence: Her kind words really gave me a boost before the test.
Other Ways to Say: Encourage, Motivate
19. Keep someone’s spirits up
Meaning: To help someone stay positive.
In a Sentence: She brought me soup and jokes to keep my spirits up.
Other Ways to Say: Cheer someone up, Uplift
20. Throw someone a lifeline
Meaning: To offer help in a difficult situation.
In a Sentence: That scholarship threw me a lifeline during college.
Other Ways to Say: Rescue, Help out
21. A friend in need is a friend indeed
Meaning: True friends are there when you need them.
In a Sentence: She helped me when I had nothing—that’s a friend indeed.
Other Ways to Say: Loyal friend, Reliable companion
22. Take a stand for someone
Meaning: To publicly support or defend someone.
In a Sentence: He took a stand for his friend when others blamed him.
Other Ways to Say: Defend, Speak up for
23. Fight someone’s battles
Meaning: To help someone handle their problems.
In a Sentence: My mom always fought my battles when I was younger.
Other Ways to Say: Advocate, Stand up for
24. Put in a good word
Meaning: To recommend or support someone.
In a Sentence: He put in a good word for me with the hiring manager.
Other Ways to Say: Recommend, Speak highly of
25. Catch someone when they fall
Meaning: To be there to help when someone fails or struggles.
In a Sentence: True friends will catch you when you fall.
Other Ways to Say: Support, Help recover
26. Throw someone a lifeline
Meaning: To offer help or support in a difficult situation.
In a Sentence: When I was struggling with rent, my cousin threw me a lifeline and lent me some money.
Other Ways to Say: Offer a way out, Provide crucial help
27. Come to someone’s aid
Meaning: To help someone who is in trouble.
In a Sentence: The lifeguard came to the swimmer’s aid just in time.
Other Ways to Say: Rescue, Help out
28. Step up to the plate
Meaning: To take responsibility or action when needed.
In a Sentence: When no one else volunteered, Sarah stepped up to the plate to lead the group.
Other Ways to Say: Take charge, Rise to the occasion
29. Keep someone afloat
Meaning: To help someone survive financially or emotionally.
In a Sentence: Her parents’ support kept her afloat during college.
Other Ways to Say: Provide support, Help survive
30. Stick up for someone
Meaning: To defend or support someone.
In a Sentence: James stuck up for his friend when he was being blamed unfairly.
Other Ways to Say: Defend, Stand up for
31. Show up for someone
Meaning: To be present to support someone when they need you.
In a Sentence: He always shows up for his sister’s events, no matter how busy he is.
Other Ways to Say: Be there, Offer presence
32. Stand in someone’s corner
Meaning: To support someone fully, especially during a conflict.
In a Sentence: No matter what happens, I’ll always stand in your corner.
Other Ways to Say: Be on someone’s side, Support fully
33. A shoulder to cry on
Meaning: Someone who listens and gives emotional support.
In a Sentence: After her breakup, she really needed a shoulder to cry on.
Other Ways to Say: Supportive friend, Listener
34. Root for someone
Meaning: To support someone and hope for their success.
In a Sentence: We’re all rooting for you to win the competition!
Other Ways to Say: Cheer on, Wish success
35. Go the extra mile
Meaning: To make a special effort to help someone.
In a Sentence: He always goes the extra mile to make his friends feel special.
Other Ways to Say: Make extra effort, Do more
36. Be in someone’s corner
Meaning: To be on someone’s side or offer support consistently.
In a Sentence: You can count on me—I’ll always be in your corner.
Other Ways to Say: Support completely, Be loyal
37. Give someone a boost
Meaning: To help someone improve or move forward.
In a Sentence: Her encouragement gave me a real boost during the competition.
Other Ways to Say: Uplift, Motivate
38. Help someone out
Meaning: To assist someone with a task or situation.
In a Sentence: Could you help me out with this homework assignment?
Other Ways to Say: Offer help, Assist
39. Be someone’s rock
Meaning: To be a dependable and strong source of support.
In a Sentence: She was my rock during the most difficult time of my life.
Other Ways to Say: Reliable supporter, Constant help
40. Keep someone in the loop
Meaning: To keep someone informed and included.
In a Sentence: Thanks for keeping me in the loop about the project changes.
Other Ways to Say: Inform, Include
41. Be a guiding light
Meaning: To be a source of inspiration or support.
In a Sentence: His teacher was a guiding light throughout his school years.
Other Ways to Say: Inspire, Mentor
42. Take someone under your wing
Meaning: To mentor or look after someone.
In a Sentence: The manager took the new employee under her wing.
Other Ways to Say: Mentor, Look after
43. Hold someone’s hand
Meaning: To support someone through a difficult situation.
In a Sentence: She held my hand throughout the entire medical procedure.
Other Ways to Say: Offer comfort, Be supportive
44. Be a helping hand
Meaning: To be someone who provides assistance.
In a Sentence: He’s always a helping hand during charity events.
Other Ways to Say: Assistant, Supportive person
45. Cheer someone on
Meaning: To encourage and support someone enthusiastically.
In a Sentence: The whole team cheered her on during the race.
Other Ways to Say: Encourage, Applaud
46. Be someone’s cheerleader
Meaning: To support and encourage someone in all they do.
In a Sentence: My mom is my biggest cheerleader.
Other Ways to Say: Supportive person, Encourager
47. Back someone up
Meaning: To support someone’s actions or decisions.
In a Sentence: I’ll back you up if the others question your idea.
Other Ways to Say: Defend, Support
48. Raise someone up
Meaning: To elevate someone emotionally or in status.
In a Sentence: Her words raised me up when I felt down.
Other Ways to Say: Encourage, Lift up
49. Be a safety net
Meaning: To provide backup or protection when things go wrong.
In a Sentence: My savings account is my safety net if I lose my job.
Other Ways to Say: Backup plan, Security
50. Ride or die
Meaning: Someone who stays loyal through all situations.
In a Sentence: He’s my ride or die—I know he’ll always be there for me.
Other Ways to Say: Loyal friend, Unbreakable support
