through thick and thin

Cultural  

1. To stay with someone or something “through thick and thin” is to persevere through good times as well as bad: “She stood beside her friend through thick and thin.”

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through thick and thin Idioms  

1. Despite all obstacles or adversities, as in She promised to stand by him through thick and thin. This term alludes to penetrating a forest with both thick and sparse undergrowth. Today it is nearly always used with the idea of supporting something or someone in all circumstances, as in the example. [Late 1300s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

through thick and thin

"Grateful to everyone for being with us through thick and thin for the past 50 years, thank you, take care," it said on social media, without providing further details.

From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026

You have been there through thick and thin!

From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2026

It needed supporters who cheered for their team through thick and thin, not curious, casual fans who came out to see whatever big-name player was passing through town but never came back.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026

“They’ve stuck with the Venezuelan market through thick and thin, and endured a lot of adverse conditions, a lot of headwinds,” said Clay Seigel, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 17, 2025

I have been through thick and thin with Walter.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• adamantly
• decisively
• doggedly
• persistently
• resolutely
• staunchly
• steadfastly
• strictly
• stubbornly
• tenaciously