10 English idioms about betrayal and choosing trustworthy friends to stick with you through thick and thin

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  • Has someone ever thrown you under the bus – causing you to suffer when they shirk responsibility for their mistakes?
  • Pick up some phrases about being more careful about who you put your faith in
Sue Ng |
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Dependable friends are indispensable, but choosing people you can count on is tough. Here are two Cantonese slang phrases and 10 English idioms that will remind you to be wise when meeting new people.

1. Double cross

Meaning: to betray or deceive someone who thought you were working with them

Example: Simon double-crossed his company by sharing its secrets with its competitors.

2. Stab someone in the back

Meaning: to betray someone who trusts you

Example: Be careful around Mary. She acts nice to your face but stabs you in the back when it suits her.

The sad thing about betrayal is that it comes from someone you had trusted. Photo: Shutterstock

3. Throw someone under the bus

Meaning: to do something harmful to someone else in order to gain an advantage for yourself

Example: When people criticise our team, John throws us under the bus to protect his reputation.

4. Viper in one’s bosom / snake in one’s bosom

Meaning: an ungrateful or treacherous friend

Example: I have been helping James with his maths assignments for years, but it turns out that he has been telling our classmates rumours about me. Now, I regret nurturing a viper in my bosom.

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5. Sell someone down the river

Meaning: to betray someone for your own benefit

Example: The politician may say he will help low-income families, but he’ll sell them down the river as soon as a wealthy business owner approaches him.

6. Look before you leap

Meaning: to think carefully before taking action

Example: The professor reminded her students to look before they leap when signing contracts for new jobs.

Watch where you step! Photo: Shutterstock

7. In safe hands

Meaning: being protected or in the care of someone trustworthy

Example: Don’t worry! Your grandparents are in safe hands at the nursing home.

8. Ride out the storm

Meaning: to manage not to be harmed or affected by a difficult situation

Example: The government promised to help its citizens ride out the storm.

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9. As thick as thieves

Meaning: very close or friendly

Example: Thomas and Jenny have been as thick as thieves ever since they met in primary school.

10. Speak the same language

Meaning: to understand someone as a result of shared values or opinions

Example: Even though we grew up in very different cultures, my best friend and I speak the same language – we value kindness and generosity.

Good communication is the cornerstone of any relationship. Photo: Shutterstock

Here are two Cantonese slang phrases ...

1. 賣豬仔 maai6 zyu1 zai2 (mai-joo-jai): “sell piglets”

Meaning: to trick someone. In the past, the phrase referred to human trafficking, when Chinese men were tricked and sent aboard ships to become indentured labourers working for very low wages in places like America and the Caribbean.

In English: to trick; to con; to sell someone out; to throw someone under the bus; to sell someone down the river

Example: The government has warned people to be careful when travelling to Southeast Asia after people reported being scammed and mai-joo-jai.

2. 帶眼識人 daai3 ngaan5 sik1 jan4 (dai-ngahn-sik-yuhn): “bring eyes to know people”

Meaning: to remind people to be careful when getting to know someone new

In English: choose your friends wisely; be wise when making new friends

Example: You need to dai-ngahn-sik-yuhn and choose the right friends.

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