Trust is hard to define, but idioms for trust give it shape, texture, and weight.
A bridge not burned, a hand to hold, or a wall let down—these phrases capture the quiet courage behind belief in others.
They don’t just explain trust; they show it in action, in risk, in hope.
Through them, language opens the door to something deeply human and quietly powerful.
Best Idioms for Trust
1. Put your faith in someone’s hands
Meaning: To trust someone completely, as if your future rests in their care.
In a Sentence:
She put her faith in his hands, believing he’d never let her down.
In times of crisis, we often put our faith in the ones we love.
Other Ways to Say: Entrust your future, Hand over hope, Rely fully
2. Take someone at their word
Meaning: To believe what someone says without question.
In a Sentence:
I took her at her word and followed through with the plan.
Sometimes, trust means taking someone at their word.
Other Ways to Say: Trust their promise, Believe their voice, Accept as truth
3. Rest your hopes on someone
Meaning: To place your expectations or dreams in another’s ability.
In a Sentence:
He rested all his hopes on her strength to get them through.
We rest our hopes on leaders when we believe in their vision.
Other Ways to Say: Lean on their promise, Hope in others, Place your faith
4. Pin your trust on someone
Meaning: To attach your belief or confidence to someone firmly.
In a Sentence:
I pinned my trust on him like a badge I refused to take off.
They pinned their trust on the new manager with high expectations.
Other Ways to Say: Fasten your faith, Hang your trust, Fix your confidence
5. Lay your trust at someone’s feet
Meaning: To offer your deepest trust with humility and vulnerability.
In a Sentence:
She laid her trust at his feet, hoping he’d never walk away.
Laying your trust at someone’s feet is both brave and beautiful.
Other Ways to Say: Offer your belief, Surrender your heart, Kneel in faith
6. Bank on someone’s promise
Meaning: To count on someone’s word as if it were money in the bank.
In a Sentence:
I banked on her promise, believing she’d keep it no matter what.
You shouldn’t bank on promises unless they’re backed by action.
Other Ways to Say: Count on their word, Deposit belief, Invest in their vow
7. Cling to someone’s word
Meaning: To hold tightly to someone’s promise, especially in desperation.
In a Sentence:
He clung to her words like a life preserver in stormy seas.
When nothing else made sense, I clung to his word.
Other Ways to Say: Hold fast to promise, Grip belief, Anchor in words
8. Stake your faith in someone
Meaning: To take a risk by trusting someone fully.
In a Sentence:
She staked her faith in him and hoped he wouldn’t fold.
Staking your faith in someone means putting your heart on the line.
Other Ways to Say: Bet on their honor, Risk your trust, Place high hopes
9. Entrust your heart to someone
Meaning: To give someone your deepest emotions and trust.
In a Sentence:
He entrusted his heart to her, fragile but full of hope.
To entrust your heart is to believe in love’s protection.
Other Ways to Say: Offer your soul, Give your heart, Trust deeply
10. Lean on someone’s honor
Meaning: To rely on a person’s integrity and moral strength.
In a Sentence:
She leaned on his honor when all else felt uncertain.
Leaning on someone’s honor is a trust that runs deep.
Other Ways to Say: Rely on integrity, Trust their values, Stand on their word
11. Stand by someone’s side
Meaning: To remain loyal and supportive through all circumstances.
In a Sentence:
She stood by his side even when the world turned against them.
True friendship means standing by someone’s side no matter what.
Other Ways to Say: Stay loyal, Be there always, Walk beside
12. Keep faith with someone
Meaning: To honor your promise or commitment to someone.
In a Sentence:
He kept faith with her through the hardest of times.
To keep faith is to carry your word like a sacred oath.
Other Ways to Say: Stay true, Hold the vow, Honor trust
13. Hold true to someone
Meaning: To remain constant and faithful in a relationship or promise.
In a Sentence:
She held true to him even when distance separated them.
Love means holding true when everything else changes.
Other Ways to Say: Remain loyal, Keep your bond, Stay faithful
14. Stay true to your word
Meaning: To follow through with what you’ve promised.
In a Sentence:
He stayed true to his word and showed up when it mattered most.
Great leaders stay true to their word—always.
Other Ways to Say: Keep your promise, Be dependable, Walk your talk
15. Be someone’s rock
Meaning: To be a source of strength and stability for another person.
In a Sentence:
In every storm, he was her rock—unmoving, unshakable.
We all need someone to be our rock when life gets rough.
Other Ways to Say: Anchor of support, Pillar of strength, Steady presence
Related Post: 50 Common Idioms for Hope and Positivity
16. Uphold someone’s trust
Meaning: To protect and respect the trust someone has placed in you.
In a Sentence:
She upheld his trust by keeping his secret safe.
To uphold trust is to carry someone’s heart with care.
Other Ways to Say: Guard their faith, Protect the bond, Defend the integrity
17. Stand fast by someone
Meaning: To remain firm and loyal, especially in times of adversity.
In a Sentence:
They stood fast by each other, even when the ground crumbled.
Standing fast means never letting go, even when it’s hard.
Other Ways to Say: Stay rooted, Be unshaken, Hold the line
18. Bind your heart to someone
Meaning: To emotionally attach yourself with love and loyalty.
In a Sentence:
She bound her heart to him with every shared memory.
To bind your heart is to choose love again and again.
Other Ways to Say: Tie your soul, Connect deeply, Commit your love
19. Pledge your faith to someone
Meaning: To make a sincere vow of loyalty and trust.
In a Sentence:
He pledged his faith to her with a quiet promise and a steady gaze.
A pledge of faith is love spoken through action.
Other Ways to Say: Swear loyalty, Make a vow, Devote your heart
20. Be true as steel
Meaning: To be completely dependable, unwavering, and loyal.
In a Sentence:
She was true as steel—never bending, never breaking.
To be true as steel is to be loyal in its strongest form.
Other Ways to Say: Unbreakable trust, Solid commitment, Loyal through all
21. Give someone the benefit of the doubt
Meaning: To choose to trust someone even when uncertain, showing openness to belief.
In a Sentence:
She gave him the benefit of the doubt, hoping his silence meant something kind.
Trust begins when we give others the benefit of the doubt.
Other Ways to Say: Extend trust, Assume the best, Offer grace
22. Put your heart on the line
Meaning: To risk emotional pain by expressing true feelings or vulnerability.
In a Sentence:
He put his heart on the line when he finally told her how he felt.
To love deeply is to put your heart on the line.
Other Ways to Say: Take a risk in love, Bare your feelings, Go all in emotionally
23. Open your heart to someone
Meaning: To share your true emotions and allow connection with another.
In a Sentence:
She opened her heart to him, trusting he would understand her past.
Opening your heart is an invitation to be seen.
Other Ways to Say: Let someone in, Show your soul, Reveal your feelings
24. Lay your cards on the table
Meaning: To be completely honest and transparent about intentions or emotions.
In a Sentence:
He laid his cards on the table, confessing everything she needed to hear.
Real trust begins when we lay our cards on the table.
Other Ways to Say: Be open, Tell the truth, Share without fear
25. Trust someone with your life
Meaning: To trust someone completely, even in the most critical situations.
In a Sentence:
He would trust her with his life—and had, more than once.
To trust someone with your life is to believe in them beyond words.
Other Ways to Say: Absolute trust, Total faith, Life-level loyalty
26. Hang your hopes on someone
Meaning: To invest emotionally in someone with hope for the future.
In a Sentence:
She hung her hopes on him, believing they could build something lasting.
Hanging your hopes on someone means believing in their promise.
Other Ways to Say: Place your dreams with them, Trust their future, Lean on love
27. Bare your soul to someone
Meaning: To reveal your deepest emotions, fears, or truths without holding back.
In a Sentence:
He bared his soul to her, speaking truths he’d never shared before.
To bare your soul is to stand emotionally naked before another.
Other Ways to Say: Open your depths, Reveal your heart, Share everything
28. Bet your heart on someone
Meaning: To gamble emotionally on a person, trusting they’ll value it.
In a Sentence:
She bet her heart on him, praying he wouldn’t break it.
Love is the biggest gamble—when you bet your heart on someone.
Other Ways to Say: Take a chance on love, Risk it all, Go all in
29. Leave your heart unguarded
Meaning: To let down emotional defenses and be open to love or hurt.
In a Sentence:
He left his heart unguarded, hoping she’d protect it.
To grow close, you must leave your heart unguarded.
Other Ways to Say: Lower your walls, Let love in, Be Vulnerable
30. Trust someone blindly
Meaning: To believe in someone without questioning their motives or actions.
In a Sentence:
She trusted him blindly, believing love was enough.
To trust blindly is to walk with your heart instead of your eyes.
Other Ways to Say: Have blind faith, Believe without proof, Follow your heart
31. Build bridges of trust
Meaning: To create strong, respectful connections between people through trust.
In a Sentence:
They built bridges of trust after years of silence.
In every relationship, someone must be willing to build the bridge.
Other Ways to Say: Establish connection, Foster unity, Rebuild bonds
32. Forge bonds of trust
Meaning: To shape deep connections through shared honesty and commitment.
In a Sentence:
Adversity helped them forge bonds of trust stronger than any promise.
True friendship is forged in the fire of shared truth.
Other Ways to Say: Create lasting ties, Build loyalty, Strengthen relationships
33. Weave a web of trust
Meaning: To intricately build relationships through mutual understanding and care.
In a Sentence:
Over time, they wove a web of trust that held firm in every storm.
A web of trust catches you before you fall.
Other Ways to Say: Interlace connection, Knit loyalty, Build emotional fabric
34. Plant seeds of trust
Meaning: To begin cultivating trust, hoping it will grow over time.
In a Sentence:
With each kind gesture, she planted seeds of trust.
Trust takes time—it starts with a single seed.
Other Ways to Say: Start to trust, Lay a foundation, Grow understanding
35. Knit hearts together
Meaning: To create a strong emotional bond between people.
In a Sentence:
Shared laughter and tears knit their hearts together.
When words fail, love knits hearts together.
Other Ways to Say: Bond emotionally, Weave closeness, Unite deeply
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Light That Express Hope and Joy
36. Tie the knot of trust
Meaning: To firmly bind a relationship through mutual faith and loyalty.
In a Sentence:
They tied the knot of trust through years of honesty.
The strongest knots are tied not by rope but by trust.
Other Ways to Say: Commit in trust, Seal connection, Fasten faith
37. Sow trust like a farmer
Meaning: To patiently nurture trust in others as one would crops.
In a Sentence:
She sowed trust like a farmer, knowing it would bloom in time.
Trust, like harvest, requires care from the start.
Other Ways to Say: Cultivate faith, Grow understanding, Nurture belief
38. Anchor your trust in someone
Meaning: To place steady, unwavering trust in a person.
In a Sentence:
He anchored his trust in her honesty and strength.
Some people are the harbor your trust was waiting for.
Other Ways to Say: Secure faith, Ground your belief, Hold fast emotionally
39. Link arms in trust
Meaning: To move forward together in mutual support and belief.
In a Sentence:
They linked arms in trust, ready to face whatever came.
Progress comes when people link arms, not when they walk alone.
Other Ways to Say: Unite in belief, Walk together, Join in loyalty
40. Mend fences with trust
Meaning: To repair broken relationships by rebuilding belief in one another.
In a Sentence:
They mended fences with trust and a willingness to forgive.
Trust is the hammer that fixes even the most damaged fences.
Other Ways to Say: Rebuild bonds, Heal connections, Restore faith
41. Break someone’s trust
Meaning: To betray someone’s confidence, causing deep emotional damage.
In a Sentence:
He broke her trust with a single lie that echoed for years.
When trust is broken, even silence feels loud.
Other Ways to Say: Violate faith, Shatter belief, Betray someone
42. Shatter the bonds of trust
Meaning: To completely destroy a relationship that was once built on mutual trust.
In a Sentence:
That betrayal shattered the bonds of trust between them.
It takes years to build a bond—but one lie can shatter it.
Other Ways to Say: Sever ties, Break connection, Destroy loyalty
43. Burn bridges of trust
Meaning: To damage a relationship so badly it cannot be repaired.
In a Sentence:
He burned the bridges of trust with every broken promise.
Some bridges aren’t meant to be crossed again after they’re burned.
Other Ways to Say: Cut off completely, Erase connection, Ruin relationship
44. Crack the foundation of trust
Meaning: To introduce doubt that weakens the core of a relationship.
In a Sentence:
Even small lies can crack the foundation of trust.
Once trust is cracked, the whole structure trembles.
Other Ways to Say: Undermine belief, Shake confidence, Weaken connection
45. Betray someone’s faith
Meaning: To deceive someone who believed in you.
In a Sentence:
She betrayed his faith and left behind only silence.
To betray someone’s faith is to steal their peace.
Other Ways to Say: Break loyalty, Deceive, Abandon trust
46. Tear the fabric of trust
Meaning: To ruin a delicate and intricate emotional bond.
In a Sentence:
His secrets tore the fabric of trust between them.
Trust is a fabric—beautiful but easily torn.
Other Ways to Say: Rip trust apart, Damage connection, Unravel closeness
47. Cast doubt on someone’s word
Meaning: To make others question the truthfulness of someone’s statements.
In a Sentence:
By hesitating, she cast doubt on his every word.
Doubt grows fast when trust is already weak.
Other Ways to Say: Question credibility, Sow suspicion, Undermine integrity
48. Undermine someone’s trust
Meaning: To slowly erode someone’s belief in another person.
In a Sentence:
Gossip and secrets undermined their trust little by little.
Trust isn’t lost in a moment—it’s worn away.
Other Ways to Say: Diminish confidence, Chip away belief, Corrode trust
49. Lose faith in someone
Meaning: To stop believing in someone’s character or promises.
In a Sentence:
After repeated letdowns, she lost faith in his words.
Losing faith feels like watching the light disappear.
Other Ways to Say: Give up trust, Lose confidence, Feel betrayed
50. Break the chain of trust
Meaning: To end a legacy or tradition of mutual reliance.
In a Sentence:
One mistake was enough to break the chain of trust passed through generations.
A broken link weakens the strongest chain.
Other Ways to Say: Interrupt belief, Disrupt connection, Sever emotional continuity
Exercise to Practice – Idioms for Trust
- When you __________, it’s like handing someone the keys to your most guarded secrets.
- Even though he doubted her story, he decided to __________.
- She always __________, even when others question her honesty.
- True friendship means being able to __________ no matter what happens.
- Their leader __________ to help them heal after the conflict.
- I know I can __________—she’s never let me down before.
- He __________ by lying to his closest friend.
- When you __________, you’re letting someone into your deepest emotional space.
- They worked hard to __________ after years of misunderstanding.
- I used to __________, but now I can’t believe a word he says.
Answer
- entrust your heart to someone
- give someone the benefit of the doubt
- stay true to your word
- stand by someone’s side
- mend fences with trust
- lean on someone’s honor
- broke someone’s trust
- bare your soul to someone
- build bridges of trust
- lose faith in someone
Conclusion
Trust leaves no footprints, but idioms for trust trace its presence in the words we choose. They speak of unshaken ground, open doors, and hands you don’t let go.
These expressions reveal how trust is built—not with big gestures, but in quiet, lasting moments. Through them, we don’t just talk about trust—we feel its strength between the lines.
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.
