Friends

Good friends make life easier. Read how friendships start, fade and come back, and keep the people who make you laugh close.

Friend date ideas: things to do on a platonic date

Friend date ideas for two friends: what a platonic date is, plans for a best friend, a first friend date with someone new and ideas for each season.

5 min read

Three clay coworkers in a small office corner, a bearded man in his forties in a navy sweater holding up the end of a long stream of blank paper from a printer with a straight face, a woman with a blond bob in a pale blue blouse laughing with a sky-blue folder held to her chest, and a tall man in a leaf-green sweater laughing with one hand on a filing cabinet

Work jokes: clean office jokes, a joke of the day and dad jokes for work

Clean work jokes for any office: a joke of the day for each workday, dad jokes for work and jokes about meetings, email, the printer and working from home.

7 min read

In a small pottery studio, a bearded man in a navy apron at one wheel leans toward the woman beside him and points at her clay with a friendly smile, while a woman with a long dark braid in a green apron laughs with her hands on a tall clay pot.

What does affable mean? The easy friendliness people warm to

Affable means friendly and easy to talk to. Here's how it differs from amiable and nice, and how to be affable without putting on a show.

6 min read

At a wooden gate where a forest trail starts among pines and ferns, a woman with a blond braid and a backpack smiles, a bearded man with curly hair laughs with his arms folded, and a woman with a dark curly ponytail in a sky-blue jacket hurries up the path waving.

What does flaky mean? Why some friends cancel, and what to do

What flaky means, why people cancel plans and go quiet, the flaky friend and partner, and how to deal with it without losing the friendship.

6 min read

Four grown clay friends in sand aprons stand behind a wooden worktable in a small pottery workshop, laughing as each holds a handmade bowl, the bald man with a beard holding one that has cracked down the side

Best friend captions, plus captions for the whole friend group

Best friend captions for the photos you post together: short, funny and cute lines for an old friend, a faraway friend, a trio and the whole group.

6 min read

A clay woman with short curly black hair and a navy headband, in a white apron over a sky-blue shirt, laughing at her phone in a bakery kitchen at dawn, one hand on a ball of dough, a tray of round golden loaves on the wooden table, a window with a pale dawn sky behind her and a small shelf with two loaves on the wall

Good morning and good night messages for every kind of friend

Good morning and good night messages for a friend, sorted by the kind of friend they are, from an old friend to a bestie in another time zone.

6 min read

Three flatmates in their late twenties and early thirties sit at a small kitchen table with a stack of pancakes. A woman in the middle holds a pencil over a sheet of paper, a red-haired woman points at it, and a bearded man laughs with a spatula in his hand.

Roommate rules: how to share a home with someone who is not like you

Roommate rules for cleaning, noise, guests, shared things and your own space, how to settle a clash without a feud, and how to be a good roommate.

6 min read

In a bright laundromat with pale blue washing machines, two women in their forties laugh as they fold a big white sheet between them, one with short dark hair with a silver streak and a navy sweater, the other with brown hair in a bun and a leaf-green sweater, with a sky-blue basket of folded towels on the wooden counter

What is friendship? A plain answer, and what it looks like as adults

What is friendship? A plain definition, what it looks like between adults, and how a friend differs from family, a partner or an acquaintance.

6 min read

In a sunny community garden, two women friends smile at each other over a low wooden fence, one in navy overalls holding out a basket of red tomatoes and the other in a green jacket holding out a tray of seedlings in small pots

One hand washes the other: give and take between friends

What one hand washes the other means, where the saying comes from, and how friends and families help each other without keeping score or making it a trade.

6 min read

On a small café terrace under a sand-colored awning, between two potted shrubs, a clay woman with a long dark braid in a leaf-green sweater talks with both hands raised while her friend with short wavy blond hair and round glasses in a sky-blue cardigan listens with her chin on her hand, a slice of lemon cake on the table between them

There are two sides to every story: hearing both before you take a side

There are two sides to every story: what it means, where the idea comes from, and how to hear both friends out before you take a side in a fight.

6 min read

Two clay women at a round table in an office break room by a window, both wearing blank badges on navy lanyards, the one with short curly hair in a green sweater holding up a fork beside her open box of noodles, and the one with a light-brown ponytail in a sky-blue blouse laughing with a hand on her chest behind an empty lunch box, with a bowl of clementines between them

Work friends: how a colleague becomes a friend, and why some never do

How work friends start, how to tell if a work friend is a real friend, what to do when one of you leaves, and why some colleagues never click.

7 min read

Three clay friends at a round café table by a big window over the city, a man with dark curly hair in a navy jacket holding up his phone, a woman with long light brown hair in a pale blue sweater laughing, and her husband with a sandy beard in a sand-colored sweater resting his arm on the back of her chair, with cups and pastries on the table

Can men and women be just friends? What decides it

Yes, men and women can be just friends. What decides it, what to do when one of you feels more or a partner worries, and how each type shows friendship.

5 min read

Two clay women friends in a small community garden plot beside a wooden raised bed of fresh soil, one with a long dark braid holding a tray of strawberry plants and laughing, the other with short curly red hair and muddy knees leaning on a spade, with a green watering can at their feet

Fake friends quotes: calm lines for when a friendship wasn't real

Fake friends quotes for letting go, trusting your gut and thanking the real ones, with classy captions and old sayings about fair-weather friends.

6 min read

A backyard lunch under a small leafy tree, two grown clay men laughing at a phone at a wooden garden table, one with short brown hair and a beard in a leaf-green shirt holding the phone and one with fair hair in a navy cable sweater leaning in, while a woman with long dark wavy hair in a sky-blue blouse stands at the end of the table holding a big white salad bowl with a polite smile

Feeling left out: with friends, with family and in your partner's circle

Feeling left out by friends, family or your partner's friends? Why it happens when nobody means it, what to do, and how to bring it up kindly.

5 min read

Two clay women friends at a farmers market stall full of apples under a pale blue awning, one with a dark bob in a sand coat holding open a paper bag, the other in a green jacket dropping an apple into it, both smiling at each other

Questioning a friendship: rough patch or the end, and what to ask

Why you might be questioning a friendship, how to tell a rough patch from a real ending, what to ask your friend, and how to let it fade kindly.

6 min read

Four clay friends in walking clothes by a wooden fence on a grassy hilltop, three of them laughing together, and a fourth woman standing a little apart at the end of the fence with a calm face, holding the straps of her backpack

Signs someone doesn't like you, and what to do about it

Signs someone doesn't like you in a friend, a sibling, a partner's family or a neighbor, why quiet or blunt people get misread, and what to do next.

6 min read

Three clay friends with bicycles outside a small bakery, a man kneeling to fix a bike chain, a woman holding her bike's handlebars, and a second woman handing her a paper cup

Small gestures that keep a friendship strong, by type

Why small gestures keep friendships going, which ones each type notices most (a message, a hand, a remembered detail, time), and how to keep them up.

6 min read

In a small clay kitchen, three adult friends laugh while they make pizza together at a wooden counter: a woman in a green sweater rolls out dough, a bearded man holds a bowl of toppings, and a woman in a white blouse adds basil to a finished pizza

How many friends does the average person have, and how many do you need?

Many adults have a few close friends, a wider ring of good ones and many people they like. Why there is no right number, and what fits each type.

6 min read

A clay woman in her thirties sits on wooden porch steps reading her phone in both hands, a watering can and pots of herbs beside her and a small vegetable bed at her feet

How to break up with a friend, and how to get over a friend breakup

How to end a friendship kindly, what to say, what to do when a friend ends it with you, how to get over a friend breakup, and why often nobody was wrong.

7 min read

A clay woman in her thirties on a sofa types a message on her phone with an unsure look, while her husband beside her holds an open book and smiles at her, with a small holiday tree in the corner

How to politely decline an invitation without losing the friend

How to politely decline an invitation from a friend, relative or in-law, what to say when you cancel plans, and why no is hard for some people.

7 min read

Three clay women laughing together at a wooden kitchen table with plates of food, a bread basket and glasses of water, a grey-haired mother with a bun in a pale blue cardigan resting her hand on the shoulder of a woman with long black braids in a leaf-green sweater, and a woman with short blond curls and freckles in a navy sweater on the right

Sister from another mister: the friend who feels like family

Sister from another mister means a friend so close she feels like family. The other spellings, what turns a friend into a sister, and how to tell her.

6 min read

Two clay men in their thirties laugh on the front steps of an apartment building as they untangle the leashes of their two small dogs, one holding his coffee cup up high

Acquaintance vs friend: the difference, and when one becomes the other

The difference between an acquaintance and a friend, quick checks for anyone in your life, signs one is turning into the other, and why some never do.

6 min read

A clay woman in pyjamas at her front door waves hello to her best friend, who has come over in a navy coat and green scarf with a cup of ice cream and two spoons

Bestie meaning: what the word means and how it differs from best friend

What bestie means, where the word comes from, how people use it today, how a bestie differs from a best friend, and why some friends become besties fast.

7 min read

Two clay men laughing at a backyard barbecue, one turning burgers with a spatula, the other holding a plate, each with an arm around the other's shoulders

Bromance: what it means, the signs, and what makes it last

What bromance means, where the word comes from, the signs of a bromance, whether a bromance is gay, and why some male friends click at once.

6 min read

A clay woman with her foot in a cast laughs in an armchair, while one friend kneels beside her with a screwdriver and another brings her a bowl of hot soup

Characteristics of a good friend, and why good friends differ

The characteristics of a good friend, what each one looks like on an ordinary day, and why two good friends show the same quality so differently.

7 min read

At a backyard barbecue, a clay young man in the middle turns to high-five a friend in a small group on the left while a woman in a second group on the right waves him over

Floater friend: what it means, and is it bad to be one?

What a floater friend is, the signs you are one, the good and the lonely sides of moving between friend groups, and how to find a closer circle.

6 min read

Two clay women friends at a small cafe table playing chess over coffee, both smiling sweetly as one lifts a knight to make her move

What is a frenemy? Meaning, signs, and what to do about one

What a frenemy is, where the word comes from, what friend or foe means, the signs of a frenemy, and why some friends are fun and still sting.

7 min read

Two clay women in aprons at a cooking class counter, one laughing as she holds up a lopsided dumpling, the other watching her with bright, admiring eyes while holding a rolling pin

Friend crush: what it is, the signs, and how it differs from a crush

What a friend crush is, the signs you have one, how it differs from a romantic crush, what to do about it, and why some people feel like a friend at once.

6 min read

Two clay women friends laughing while packing for a weekend away, one sitting on a suitcase that is bursting with clothes and the other holding up a tiny neat backpack

Friendship deal breakers: what ends a friendship, and what doesn't

Common friendship deal breakers, the differences that only annoy, how to tell the two apart, and what to do when a friend crosses a line you cannot accept.

6 min read

Two clay women sitting at opposite ends of a park bench, one holding out a paper cup of coffee to the other, who is starting to smile

How to get your friend back after a fight, and when to let go

How to get a friend back after a fight, what to say first, how to fix a broken friendship, and why making up is easy with one friend and hard with another.

7 min read

Loyalty in friendship: what a loyal friend does, and where it ends

What loyalty in friendship means, ten things a loyal friend does, where loyalty should stop, and what to do when two of your friends fall out.

6 min read

Three clay women laugh together over big coffee cups at a small round cafe table, with an empty folded stroller and a diaper bag with a toy dinosaur parked beside them

Mom friends: how to make friends as a mom, and find the ones who fit you

Why friendships change when you become a mom, where to meet other moms, how to ask one to hang out, and why kids of the same age are not enough.

7 min read

Two clay friends laughing as they sit on their backpacks on a small pier under a lamp post, with a little ferry boat behind them

Traveling with friends: how to plan a trip and still be friends after it

How to plan a trip with friends, what to agree on before you book, how to avoid fights, and why some friends travel well together while others clash.

6 min read

A clay man at his friend's front door with a red toolbox in one hand and a pot of soup in the other, while she opens the door and smiles with relief

How to be a good friend, and how to be a better one to each friend you have

How to be a good friend and a better one: what good friends do, how to stay close when life gets busy, and why each friend needs something different.

6 min read

Two clay women in a second-hand bookshop reaching for the same old book at the same moment and laughing

Kindred spirit: what it means, the signs, and why you feel it with some people at once

What a kindred spirit is, the signs you have found one, how it differs from a soulmate, and why the same first spark turns into very different friendships.

7 min read

A clay man on a sofa holding a bowl of popcorn and looking unhappy while the couple next to him laugh together in front of the TV

Third wheel: what it means, how to stop feeling like one, and why some couples make it easy

What a third wheel is, the signs, what to do when you feel left out with a couple, and why it feels easy with one couple and awkward with another.

6 min read

A clay group of five friends around a campfire at a lakeside campsite: one hands out food, one tells a story with wide arms, two laugh, and one sits a little apart tending the fire

Friend group dynamics: the roles, the drama, and why some groups just click

How a friend group works, the roles people fall into, where friend group drama comes from, and why some groups feel like home.

7 min read

A clay woman in a kitchen holds up a small cake with one candle, one friend claps with both hands in the air, and the other friend smiles politely and looks down at her phone

Jealous friend: how to tell if someone is jealous of you, and why it happens

How to tell if someone is jealous of you, the signs of a jealous friend, how jealousy differs from envy, and why a friend envies what comes easily to you.

8 min read

A clay woman on a dark balcony at night holds up her phone for a video call, and on the screen her friend sits at a sunny breakfast table and lifts a coffee cup to her

Long distance friendship: how to keep a friend who lives in another city or country

How to keep a long distance friendship close, how often to talk and visit, and what changes when a best friend moves away.

7 min read

Four clay adults at a board game night in a small cafe: two new acquaintances laugh over the same card, one explains the rules, and one stands in the doorway with a coat still on, waving hello

Making new friends as an adult: where to start, and why you click with some people fast

Why making friends as an adult is hard, where to meet people in a new city, how long friendship takes, and why some people click at once.

7 min read

Two clay friends at a cafe table, one leaning forward and holding out a small wrapped gift, the other sitting back with a polite smile and a phone in hand

One-sided friendship: the signs, and why some friendships lean one way

What a one-sided friendship is, the signs to look for, why friendships become one-sided, and why some lean one way even when both people mean well.

7 min read

Two clay friends, a man and a woman, on a park bench sharing a bag of chips and laughing, while her partner walks toward them carrying three coffees

Platonic relationship: what it means, and how platonic love differs from romantic love

What a platonic relationship means, how platonic and romantic love differ, what a platonic soulmate is, and why the fit between two people stays the same.

7 min read

Two clay friends at a cafe table, one talking with a raised finger, the other looking down at their cup with folded arms

Signs of a bad friendship, and why the same friend can be good for someone else

The signs of a bad friendship, how to tell a bad friend from a bad fit, and why a person who wears you out can be an easy friend to someone else.

6 min read

A clay pair of best friends walking side by side on a quiet path, one with an arm around the other

What makes a best friend and why it is so rare

What makes someone your best friend, why many people have only one or two, and what to look for when you want to know if this friendship could become that.

5 min read

A clay group of friends on a picnic blanket under a small tree: two play chess, one reads lying down, and two stand and wave

Types of friends and why each one feels different

The types of friends you have, from the one who gets you without words to the one who keeps correcting you, and what makes each friendship work.

4 min read