What does ‘Thick’ and ‘Thin’ Refer to in the Phrase ‘Through Thick and Thin’?
Through thick and thin means —
- through good times and bad times;
- through all obstacles;
- under all circumstances.
This phrase is a shortened version of an old expression —
“Through the thicket and thin woodland.”
This expression states that in some places the forest is dense and dark — it has a thick and overgrown undergrowth — whereas, in some places, it is sparse and easy to navigate.
So, if someone was with you while you were passing through the forest, that means he traveled with you through all obstacles; he supported you when the path was difficult and when the path was easy. He stood by you no matter the circumstances.
Thus, through thick and thin means through good times and bad times.
Let’s see an example —
“I wouldn’t be as successful without the support of my wife. She has supported me through thick and thin.”
It means that my wife stood by me and supported me in happy times and in bad times. I am as successful only because of her.
I hope you found this story interesting. If you did, buy my full course on Udemy or watch it for free on Skillshare by signing up here. This course covers nearly 380 idioms with their origins and backstories.
Hi, I am Gauri Shanker, a Vocab teacher and enthusiast. I teach vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. You can check out my courses here.
