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Relationships: ups and downs A
Friendship
FRIENDSHIP
Friends are people who are much more than mere casual acquaintances1. True friends are always there when you need them, as you are for them. We expect loyalty2 from our friends, despite our faults, and should give it in return, never speaking ill of them behind their backs3. As well as having friends and casual acquaintances, we have relationships with colleagues, allies and partners.
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1
people you know, but not very well
2
support in good or bad times
3
when they are not there
Here are some qualities of friendship and their opposites:
B
quality
opposite
loyal (adj.), loyalty (noun)
disloyal (adj.), disloyalty (noun)
supportive [always supports you]
unsupportive, critical
honest, truthful
dishonest, untruthful
respectful (adj.), respect (noun)
disrespectful (adj.), disrespect (noun)
Good and bad relationships I used to think of Kate as a friend but I now realise she has been two-faced towards me. [insincere; pleasant with someone and then unpleasant about them behind their back]
Russia and America were allies in the war. [countries or people who
join together to fight for a common cause]
We were business partners but now we’re bitter/arch rivals.
[people who own a business together] [people in competition with each other in a negative, aggressive way] Indeed, I could say we are now sworn enemies. [people who will always hate each other]
Fergus has been disloyal to me on a number of occasions. OK, I was dishonest with you. I’m sorry, but I didn’t want to hurt you. Sam has been very distant towards me recently. [not friendly, cold] Jamie has always been scrupulously honest in his dealings with us. I would expect complete and unswerving loyalty from a true friend. Monica has always been my staunchest ally at work. I can always rely on her to support me. I was amazed that someone who called herself my friend could be so deeply critical of me.
C
Breakdowns: expressions and collocations Unfortunately, relationships sometimes break down because of genuine misunderstandings. [collapse] [not understanding something correctly]
A rift can develop between two people or groups. [serious disagreement that divides people] There’s been a lot of discord in the office lately. [disagreement and discontent] My father and I don’t see eye to eye on most things. [have different opinions] Jack and his sister have been on bad terms for a long time. [have a poor relationship] His love affair with Anna has turned sour. I think they’ll split up. [become bad] [separate] Our marriage has had its ups and downs, but basically we’re OK. [had good and bad times] a bumpy relationship [up and down like a car on a road with bumps] a broken home [family split up by divorce] a family feud [/fjuːd/ quarrel in a family causing bad feeling for many years] 30
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced
