Meaning
Under all circumstances, no matter how difficult or unfavorable things become.
It’s most often used to praise unwavering loyalty — in a friendship, marriage, or partnership — that survives both good times and bad.
Origin
The phrase is documented in English from as early as the start of the 14th century, originally describing literal terrain — “thick” meaning dense woodland or undergrowth, and “thin” meaning open, sparsely wooded ground — so that traveling “through thick and thin” meant covering rough and smooth ground alike, regardless of the difficulty. Over time, this literal sense of an unbroken journey across varied terrain shifted into the purely figurative meaning familiar today: sticking with someone or something no matter how hard the circumstances become.
Examples
They’ve stuck together through thick and thin for over twenty years.
A true friend supports you through thick and thin.
The team stayed loyal to their coach through thick and thin.
A: Would you still help him after everything that happened? B: Of course, through thick and thin.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Through thick and thin' mean?
Under all circumstances, no matter how difficult or unfavorable things become.
It’s most often used to praise unwavering loyalty — in a friendship, marriage, or partnership — that survives both good times and bad.
How do you say 'Through thick and thin' in Russian?
How do you say 'Through thick and thin' in Spanish?
How do you say 'Through thick and thin' in French?
Related idioms
- Money burns a hole in one's pocket
- Wind down
- Grass is always greener on the other side
- Turn back the hands of time