A Fair-Weather Friend

A fair-weather friend is a friend that is only around when things are easy. When a situation becomes difficult, or you need them to help you with something, they are hard to find. I think we all know this type of person. Someone who is a lot of fun to be around, but is never around when you need support.

To understand this phrase, I think we first must look into fair weather. Fair comes from the Old English word fæger; meaning beautiful, handsome, or attractive. In relation to weather it means a beautiful day: clear skies, warm weather, and pleasant.

This phrase is related to 'fair-weather sailor', someone who only sails recreationally when the weather is good. A true sailor can sail in any type of weather; stormy or fair.

I think the sailor phrase helps us to understand what a fair-weather friend is. They are only there when the weather is good. You can't rely on them when things get difficult.

How do you deal with fair weather friends?

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