Not every face in the world of relationships is real. When deceit hides behind a smile, you need a language that can expose the disguise without being blunt.
This collection of Idioms About Fake Friends will provide you with sharp tools to illuminate and name toxic relationships. Use them to find clarity and power in your story.
Best Idioms About Fake Friends
1. Fair-Weather Friend
Meaning: Someone who is only supportive during good times, like a friend absent in storms.
In a Sentence:
She’s a fair-weather friend, gone when I need her.
He proved to be a fair-weather friend, disappearing during tough times.
Other Ways to Say: Sunshine friend, Part-time pal, Good-times buddy
2. Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Meaning: A fake friend who hides harmful intentions behind a kind facade.
In a Sentence:
He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing, pretending to care.
Her sweet words hid a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Other Ways to Say: Deceiver, False friend, Hidden enemy
3. Two-Faced
Meaning: A fake friend who acts differently behind your back, showing dual personalities.
In a Sentence:
She’s two-faced, praising me to my face but gossiping behind.
He’s a two-faced friend, not to be trusted.
Other Ways to Say: Hypocritical, Double-dealing, Deceitful
4. Snake in the Grass
Meaning: A sneaky fake friend who betrays you unexpectedly.
In a Sentence:
He was a snake in the grass, betraying my trust.
She’s a snake in the grass, hiding her true motives.
Other Ways to Say: Sneaky traitor, Hidden betrayer, Deceptive friend
5. Crocodile Tears
Meaning: Fake tears or emotions shown by a friend to gain sympathy.
In a Sentence:
Her crocodile tears didn’t fool me; she’s a fake friend.
He shed crocodile tears to seem caring.
Other Ways to Say: Fake crying, Crocodile’s tears, False emotions
6. Stab in the Back
Meaning: A betrayal by a supposed friend, like a sneaky attack.
In a Sentence:
His gossip was a stab in the back from a fake friend.
She felt a stab in the back when her friend lied.
Other Ways to Say: Betrayal, Backstabbing, Double-cross
7. False Friend
Meaning: A person who pretends to be a friend but is insincere or disloyal.
In a Sentence:
He’s a false friend, always letting me down.
She discovered her false friend’s true intentions.
Other Ways to Say: Fake friend, Deceitful ally, Untrustworthy pal
8. All Talk and No Action
Meaning: A fake friend who makes promises but never follows through.
In a Sentence:
She’s all talk and no action, never helping as promised.
He’s a fake friend, all talk and no action.
Other Ways to Say: Empty promises, Big talker, No follow-through
9. Fly-by-Night Friend
Meaning: A friend who is unreliable and disappears quickly, like a fleeting business.
In a Sentence:
He’s a fly-by-night friend, gone when I need support.
Her fly-by-night friends vanished during the crisis.
Other Ways to Say: Unreliable friend, Fleeting pal, Temporary ally
10. Backstabber
Meaning: A fake friend who betrays your trust behind your back.
In a Sentence:
She’s a backstabber, spreading my secrets.
He proved to be a backstabber, not a true friend.
Other Ways to Say: Traitor, Betrayer, Double-crosser
11. Judas Kiss
Meaning: A fake friend’s act of betrayal, like Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss.
In a Sentence:
Her hug was a Judas kiss, hiding her betrayal.
He gave me a Judas kiss with his false loyalty.
Other Ways to Say: Betrayal, False affection, Treachery
12. Turncoat
Meaning: A fake friend who switches sides or loyalty for personal gain.
In a Sentence:
He’s a turncoat, abandoning me for popularity.
She’s a turncoat friend, siding with my rival.
Other Ways to Say: Traitor, Defector, Disloyal friend
13. Fair-Weather Ally
Meaning: A friend who supports you only when it’s convenient or beneficial.
In a Sentence:
He’s a fair-weather ally, nowhere in hard times.
Her fair-weather allies left when things got tough.
Other Ways to Say: Sunshine friend, Convenient pal, Part-time supporter
14. Crocodile in the Room
Meaning: A fake friend whose deceit is obvious but ignored, like an elephant in the room.
In a Sentence:
Her lies are the crocodile in the room we all see.
He’s the crocodile in the room, faking friendship.
Other Ways to Say: Obvious deceiver, Ignored betrayer, Fake friend
15. Smiling Assassin
Meaning: A fake friend who hides harmful intentions behind a friendly smile.
In a Sentence:
She’s a smiling assassin, charming but disloyal.
His smile hides a smiling assassin’s betrayal.
Other Ways to Say: Deceptive friend, Charming traitor, Hidden foe
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Friendship You Should Know
16. Forked Tongue
Meaning: A fake friend who speaks deceptively, like a snake with a split tongue.
In a Sentence:
He speaks with a forked tongue, not to be trusted.
Her forked tongue revealed her as a fake friend.
Other Ways to Say: Deceitful speech, Lying friend, Dishonest talk
17. Benedict Arnold
Meaning: A fake friend who betrays trust, named after the infamous traitor.
In a Sentence:
He’s a Benedict Arnold, turning on his friends.
She acted like a Benedict Arnold, betraying me.
Other Ways to Say: Traitor, Backstabber, Disloyal friend
18. False Colors
Meaning: Pretending to be something you’re not, like a ship with fake flags.
In a Sentence:
She sailed under false colors, faking friendship.
His false colors hid his true, disloyal nature.
Other Ways to Say: False pretenses, Deceptive facade, Fake loyalty
19. Sellout
Meaning: A fake friend who betrays you for personal gain or popularity.
In a Sentence:
He’s a sellout, ditching me for fame.
She’s a sellout friend, abandoning me for profit.
Other Ways to Say: Traitor, Betrayer, Opportunist
20. Snake Oil Salesman
Meaning: A fake friend who promotes false promises, like selling useless cures.
In a Sentence:
He’s a snake oil salesman, full of empty promises.
Her fake friendship was like a snake oil salesman’s pitch.
Other Ways to Say: Deceiver, Charlatan, False promiser
21. Double-Crosser
Meaning: A fake friend who betrays you by breaking trust twice.
In a Sentence:
She’s a double-crosser, betraying me to others.
He double-crossed me, proving he’s a fake friend.
Other Ways to Say: Backstabber, Traitor, Deceiver
22. Crocodile’s Smile
Meaning: A fake friend’s insincere expression of kindness, hiding bad intentions.
In a Sentence:
Her crocodile’s smile didn’t fool me.
He gave a crocodile’s smile, hiding his betrayal.
Other Ways to Say: Fake smile, False kindness, Deceptive charm
23. Keep at Arm’s Length
Meaning: To avoid closeness with a fake friend to protect yourself.
In a Sentence:
I keep her at arm’s length; she’s a fake friend.
He’s kept at arm’s length, not fully trusted.
Other Ways to Say: Stay distant, Avoid closeness, Be cautious
24. Wolf at the Door
Meaning: A fake friend posing a hidden threat, like a wolf lurking nearby.
In a Sentence:
She’s a wolf at the door, pretending to be kind.
He’s the wolf at the door, a fake friend in disguise.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden threat, Deceptive friend, Lurking danger
25. False Front
Meaning: A fake friend’s outward show of loyalty hiding true intentions.
In a Sentence:
Her false front hid her disloyalty.
He put up a false front as a fake friend.
Other Ways to Say: Fake facade, Deceptive mask, Crocodile tears
26. Play Both Sides
Meaning: A fake friend who pretends loyalty to multiple parties for personal gain.
In a Sentence:
She plays both sides, not a true friend.
He’s playing both sides, a classic fake friend.
Other Ways to Say: Double-deal, Be two-faced, Hedge bets
27. Lip Service
Meaning: A fake friend giving empty words of support without action.
In a Sentence:
Her promises were just lip service, not genuine.
He gave lip service, proving he’s a fake friend.
Other Ways to Say: Empty words, False promises, Hollow talk
28. Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing
Meaning: A fake friend who appears tough but is weak or disloyal inside.
In a Sentence:
He’s a sheep in wolf’s clothing, faking strength.
Her tough talk hides a sheep in wolf’s clothing.
Other Ways to Say: False bravado, Weak deceiver, Fake toughness
29. Talk Out of Both Sides of Your Mouth
Meaning: A fake friend who says contradictory things to deceive.
In a Sentence:
She talks out of both sides of her mouth, lying to everyone.
He’s a fake friend, talking out of both sides of his mouth.
Other Ways to Say: Be two-faced, Contradict, Deceive
30. Crocodile in Sheep’s Clothing
Meaning: A fake friend who hides dangerous intentions behind innocence.
In a Sentence:
She’s a crocodile in sheep’s clothing, not trustworthy.
His kindness masks a crocodile in sheep’s clothing.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden betrayer, Deceptive friend, False innocent
31. Fair-Weather Companion
Meaning: A friend who is only around during good times, abandoning you in need.
In a Sentence:
He’s a fair-weather companion, gone when I’m down.
Her fair-weather companions left during the crisis.
Other Ways to Say: Sunshine friend, Temporary pal, Unreliable ally
32. Knife in the Back
Meaning: A fake friend’s act of betrayal, like a sneaky attack.
In a Sentence:
Her gossip was a knife in the back from a fake friend.
He felt a knife in the back when his friend lied.
Other Ways to Say: Betrayal, Backstabbing, Double-cross
33. Fox in the Henhouse
Meaning: A fake friend causing trouble in a trusted group, like a fox among hens.
In a Sentence:
She’s a fox in the henhouse, stirring up drama.
He’s a fox in the henhouse, a fake friend.
Other Ways to Say: Troublemaker, Deceptive ally, Hidden threat
34. Crocodile’s Grin
Meaning: A fake friend’s insincere smile hiding bad intentions.
In a Sentence:
Her crocodile’s grin didn’t hide her fake friendship.
He flashed a crocodile’s grin, plotting betrayal.
Other Ways to Say: Fake smile, Deceptive charm, False kindness
35. False Ally
Meaning: A person who pretends to support you but is disloyal.
In a Sentence:
He’s a false ally, betraying me when it counts.
She’s a false ally, not a true friend.
Other Ways to Say: Fake friend, Deceitful supporter, Untrustworthy pal
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Relationships and The Language of Love
36. Smokescreen
Meaning: A fake friend’s distraction to hide their true intentions.
In a Sentence:
Her kindness was a smokescreen for her betrayal.
He used a smokescreen to cover his fake friendship.
Other Ways to Say: Deception, Cover-up, False front
37. Hollow Promises
Meaning: Empty commitments from a fake friend, lacking sincerity.
In a Sentence:
Her hollow promises showed she’s a fake friend.
He’s full of hollow promises, never helping.
Other Ways to Say: Empty words, False vows, Lip service
38. Crocodile’s Charm
Meaning: A fake friend’s alluring behavior hiding deceitful motives.
In a Sentence:
Her crocodile’s charm fooled everyone at first.
He used his crocodile’s charm to fake friendship.
Other Ways to Say: Deceptive charm, False kindness, Crocodile tears
39. Turn Your Back
Meaning: A fake friend abandoning you in a time of need.
In a Sentence:
She turned her back when I needed a friend.
He turned his back, proving he’s fake.
Other Ways to Say: Abandon, Betray, Desert
40. Crocodile’s Mask
Meaning: A fake friend’s false persona hiding their true intentions.
In a Sentence:
Her crocodile’s mask hid her disloyalty.
He wore a crocodile’s mask as a fake friend.
Other Ways to Say: False facade, Deceptive front, Hidden agenda
41. Shadow Friend
Meaning: A fake friend who lurks but offers no real support.
In a Sentence:
He’s a shadow friend, never there when needed.
Her shadow friends vanished during hard times.
Other Ways to Say: Unreliable friend, False pal, Ghostly ally
42. Crocodile’s Game
Meaning: A fake friend’s manipulative tactics, like a cunning strategy.
In a Sentence:
She’s playing a crocodile’s game, faking loyalty.
His crocodile’s game fooled us all at first.
Other Ways to Say: Deceptive plot, Manipulative scheme, False play
43. False Face
Meaning: A fake friend’s insincere expression or behavior.
In a Sentence:
Her false face hid her true disloyalty.
He showed a false face, pretending to care.
Other Ways to Say: Fake facade, Crocodile tears, Deceptive mask
44. Crocodile’s Heart
Meaning: A fake friend’s lack of genuine care or empathy.
In a Sentence:
Her crocodile’s heart showed her fake friendship.
He has a crocodile’s heart, cold and insincere.
Other Ways to Say: Cold heart, False empathy, Crocodile tears
45. Betrayer in Disguise
Meaning: A fake friend who hides their disloyalty behind a friendly exterior.
In a Sentence:
She’s a betrayer in disguise, not a true friend.
He’s a betrayer in disguise, faking loyalty.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden traitor, False friend, Deceptive ally
46. Crocodile’s Ploy
Meaning: A fake friend’s deceptive strategy to gain trust.
In a Sentence:
Her crocodile’s ploy tricked me into trusting her.
He used a crocodile’s ploy as a fake friend.
Other Ways to Say: Deceptive tactic, False scheme, Crocodile tears
47. Crocodile’s Friendship
Meaning: A fake friendship marked by insincerity or betrayal.
In a Sentence:
Her crocodile’s friendship ended in betrayal.
He offered a crocodile’s friendship, full of lies.
Other Ways to Say: Fake friendship, False loyalty, Crocodile tears
48. False Heart
Meaning: A fake friend’s lack of genuine care or loyalty.
In a Sentence:
His false heart revealed him as a fake friend.
She hid her false heart behind kind words.
Other Ways to Say: Crocodile tears, Insincere, Deceptive care
49. Crocodile’s Act
Meaning: A fake friend’s performance of kindness to deceive others.
In a Sentence:
Her crocodile’s act didn’t fool me for long.
He put on a crocodile’s act to seem friendly.
Other Ways to Say: False performance, Crocodile tears, Deceptive show
50. Fair-Weather Mate
Meaning: A friend who is only around in good times, unreliable in need.
In a Sentence:
He’s a fair-weather mate, gone when I’m struggling.
Her fair-weather mates left during tough times.
Other Ways to Say: Sunshine friend, Unreliable pal, Temporary ally
Exercise to Practice – Idioms About Fake Friends
- When my business failed, my “best friend” disappeared. I guess he was just a _________________________.
- I thought I could trust her, but she told all my secrets. It was a total _________________________.
- He acted so nice to my face, but I later found out he was saying awful things about me behind my back. He’s completely _________________________.
- She apologized with _________________________, but I knew she wasn’t truly sorry for what she did.
- I had a feeling he was up to no good. Turns out, he was a _________________________ all along, secretly trying to steal my project.
- He said he would help me move, but he never showed up. His promises were just _________________________.
- She seems so kind and harmless, but be careful. She’s a _________________________, and her intentions are not what they seem.
- I’ve learned to _________________________ with people who have betrayed my trust in the past.
- He tried to _________________________ with an elaborate story, but I saw right through his lies.
- It’s hard to trust a person who _________________________ and says one thing to you and another to someone else.
Answer Key
- fair-weather friend
- stab in the back
- two-faced
- crocodile tears
- snake in the grass
- lip service
- wolf in sheep’s clothing
- keep them at arm’s length
- pull the wool over my eyes
- talks out of both sides of their mouth
Conclusion
The Idioms About Fake Friends you’ve learned are your key to bringing the truth about toxic relationships to light. These phrases don’t just help you tell a more engaging story; they also allow you to see betrayal from a fresh and powerful perspective. Use them to make your story about trust and honesty clearer and more compelling than ever before.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
