Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[calcaneous]

I've come across this new vocabulary today - bosom buddy, and the word

seemingly represents a close friend of yours whom you can share your

innermost secrets with.

I'm a bit curious whether kids in North America today still use this word.

(Do guys ever use this word, while describing one of his close buddies?)

If not, what would be another way of saying it?

Also, what about "a fair-weather friend"?

Is it one of those old-fashioned words that people hardly use these days?

[Lorikeet]

I don't think kids use "bosum buddy" at all any more. "Best friend" works still, however. There are also a lot of slang words that could be used, depending on the kids.

"Fair-weather friend" is one who is only your friend in the good times, and would leave if you got into trouble (when you really needed a friend!). Don't use that one to describe a good friend. "I thought Jack was a good friend, but when I got sick he didn't want to see me or help me; he was just a fair-weather friend."