Fake friends can seem nice at first. They may smile and talk kindly. But over time, their actions show something different. They may break promises, tell lies, or disappear when you need help. Learning to spot fake friends helps us choose better friends who really care.
One way people talk about fake friends is by using metaphors. Metaphors compare things in a fun or creative way. Instead of saying, “She lies a lot,” someone might say, “She’s a snake in the grass.” These phrases make it easier to understand how fake friends act. In this article, you’ll learn common metaphors for fake friends, what they mean, and how to use them in real life.
Metaphors about Fake Friends
1. A snake in the grass
Meaning: Someone who pretends to be nice but plans to hurt you
Give an Instance: He acted like a friend, but he was a snake in the grass when he told my secret. / She smiled at me, but she was really a snake in the grass.
Substitute Meaning: A sneaky liar / A hidden enemy
2. A wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Someone who looks kind but is really mean
Give an Instance: I thought she was sweet, but she was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. / He seemed helpful, but he was tricking us all.
Substitute Meaning: Pretend friend / Someone fake
3. A backstabber
Meaning: Someone who hurts you behind your back
Give an Instance: He told others mean things I said what a backstabber. / I trusted her, but she turned out to be a backstabber.
Substitute Meaning: Betrayer / Secret hater
4. A broken mirror
Meaning: A friendship that looked whole but really was not
Give an Instance: Our friendship was like a broken mirror it looked fine but was full of cracks. / It looked okay, but everything was falling apart.
Substitute Meaning: Fake bond / False friendship
5. A shadow that disappears
Meaning: Someone who leaves when things get tough
Give an Instance: I needed help, but she was like a shadow that disappears. / Fake friends are like shadows they’re gone when the sun goes away.
Substitute Meaning: Won’t stay / Vanishes
6. A two-faced coin
Meaning: Someone who acts one way with you and different with others
Give an Instance: She’s nice to me but mean when I’m gone a two-faced coin. / He changes around different people like a two-faced coin.
Substitute Meaning: Double personality / Fake behavior
7. A mask with a smile
Meaning: Someone pretending to be kind
Give an Instance: His kindness was just a mask with a smile. / Behind her smile, she hid mean thoughts.
Substitute Meaning: Fake kindness / Hidden meanness
8. A popped balloon
Meaning: A friendship that felt exciting but ended quickly
Give an Instance: It was fun at first, but like a popped balloon, it was over fast. / She promised to be my best friend, but it didn’t last.
Substitute Meaning: Lost joy / Broken promise
9. A trap with candy
Meaning: Something that looks fun but causes harm
Give an Instance: He gave me gifts but then tricked me it was a trap with candy. / Fake friends are like sweet traps.
Substitute Meaning: Dangerous fun / Trick with a smile
10. A cloud that blocks the sun
Meaning: Someone who brings bad feelings
Give an Instance: She always made me feel small a cloud that blocks the sun. / Fake friends don’t make life brighter.
Substitute Meaning: Brings sadness / Negative person
11. A glass house
Meaning: Someone who judges others but can’t handle being judged
Give an Instance: She laughed at my mistake but got mad when I pointed out hers. She lives in a glass house. / Fake friends can’t take what they give.
Substitute Meaning: Fragile and unfair / Can’t take blame
12. A book with a fake cover
Meaning: Someone who looks nice but hides their true self
Give an Instance: He looked like a good friend, but he was just a book with a fake cover. / She acted sweet, but her actions told a different story.
Substitute Meaning: Hides the truth / Looks good but isn’t
13. A cracked phone screen
Meaning: Something that used to work but doesn’t anymore
Give an Instance: Our friendship is like a cracked phone screen it doesn’t feel right anymore. / It looks okay, but it’s really broken.
Substitute Meaning: Broken connection / Not useful
14. A ladder that breaks
Meaning: Someone who lets you fall when you need them
Give an Instance: I counted on him, but he let me down like a ladder that breaks. / Fake friends don’t help they just watch you fall.
Substitute Meaning: Can’t count on / Let-down
15. A radio with no sound
Meaning: A friend who doesn’t listen or care
Give an Instance: I talked to her, but she didn’t hear me a radio with no sound. / He never really listens.
Substitute Meaning: Ignorer / Emotionally distant
16. A puzzle piece that doesn’t fit
Meaning: Someone who doesn’t belong or connect
Give an Instance: She was never really part of the group, like a puzzle piece that doesn’t fit. / We just don’t click.
Substitute Meaning: Doesn’t match / Out of place
17. A bridge that breaks
Meaning: Someone who ends the friendship quickly
Give an Instance: One fight, and he was gone a bridge that breaks. / She gave up on us so fast.
Substitute Meaning: Quick to quit / No loyalty
18. A sponge full of drama
Meaning: Someone who soaks up trouble and spreads it
Give an Instance: He listens to gossip and spreads it like a sponge full of drama. / Fake friends always know the latest mess.
Substitute Meaning: Trouble spreader / Drama source
19. A tree with no roots
Meaning: Someone who can’t grow strong relationships
Give an Instance: She jumps from friend to friend a tree with no roots. / He never stays close to anyone.
Substitute Meaning: No real connection / Weak ties
20. A robot with no heart
Meaning: Someone who acts friendly but doesn’t care
Give an Instance: He said the right words, but he was a robot with no heart. / She smiled, but it didn’t feel real.
Substitute Meaning: Cold person / Emotionless
21. A fire that burns
Meaning: A friend who causes harm
Give an Instance: Our friendship was a fire that burned me. / He made me cry more than smile.
Substitute Meaning: Hurtful relationship / Painful connection
22. A fake coin
Meaning: Someone who looks valuable but isn’t real
Give an Instance: She acted like she cared, but she was a fake coin. / I thought he was true, but he wasn’t.
Substitute Meaning: Not trustworthy / Looks good but lies
23. A leaky boat
Meaning: A friend who lets you down when things get rough
Give an Instance: When I needed her most, she left like a leaky boat. / Our friendship couldn’t handle trouble.
Substitute Meaning: Can’t rely on / Unstable
24. A camera with no film
Meaning: Someone who sees everything but remembers nothing meaningful
Give an Instance: He watches but doesn’t care, like a camera with no film. / She’s there, but not really.
Substitute Meaning: No real memory / Doesn’t value moments
25. A sponge that dries out
Meaning: Someone who stops caring after they get what they want
Give an Instance: She needed help, then left like a sponge that dries out. / He used me, then ignored me.
Substitute Meaning: Selfish friend / User
26. A balloon full of hot air
Meaning: Someone who talks big but doesn’t follow through
Give an Instance: He makes big promises but never helps a balloon full of hot air. / She always says she’ll be there, but she’s not.
Substitute Meaning: All talk / Empty promise
27. A mirror that lies
Meaning: Someone who reflects false things about you
Give an Instance: She made me feel bad about myself a mirror that lies. / Fake friends make you see the wrong things.
Substitute Meaning: Bad influence / Untrue reflection
28. A seesaw with no balance
Meaning: A friendship that is one-sided
Give an Instance: I gave more than I got a seesaw with no balance. / She never gave back the care I gave.
Substitute Meaning: Unfair friendship / Uneven effort
29. A firework that fizzles
Meaning: Someone who seemed fun at first but let you down
Give an Instance: He was exciting at first, but then disappeared like a firework that fizzles. / Fake friends fade fast.
Substitute Meaning: Short-term joy / Lost sparkle
30. A lock with no key
Meaning: Someone you can’t really trust or open up to
Give an Instance: I tried to share, but she was a lock with no key. / He never lets anyone in.
Substitute Meaning: Closed off / No real trust
31. A sandcastle at high tide
Meaning: Something that looks strong but falls apart fast
Give an Instance: Our friendship was like a sandcastle at high tide it washed away too soon. / It didn’t last when trouble came.
Substitute Meaning: Weak friendship / Quick to break
32. A radio that changes stations
Meaning: Someone who can’t stay loyal or focused
Give an Instance: One day she liked me, the next she didn’t a radio that changes stations. / He switched sides all the time.
Substitute Meaning: Not dependable / Mood switcher
33. A candle in the wind
Meaning: Someone who is easily blown away or gives up
Give an Instance: When things got tough, she was like a candle in the wind gone. / Fake friends don’t stay strong.
Substitute Meaning: Weak support / Fades quickly
34. A gate that only swings one way
Meaning: A friend who takes but doesn’t give
Give an Instance: I helped her so much, but she never helped me a gate that only swings one way. / It was always about her.
Substitute Meaning: Selfish friend / One-sided care
35. A storm with no warning
Meaning: A friend who causes trouble suddenly
Give an Instance: One day things were fine, the next she started drama a storm with no warning. / He made problems out of nowhere.
Substitute Meaning: Brings surprise trouble / Unpredictable
36. A plant with no roots
Meaning: A friendship that doesn’t grow
Give an Instance: We never got close it was like a plant with no roots. / It didn’t feel real.
Substitute Meaning: Shallow bond / Won’t last
37. A sponge that leaks
Meaning: Someone who shares your secrets
Give an Instance: I told her something private, but she told others like a sponge that leaks. / Can’t keep anything safe.
Substitute Meaning: Can’t be trusted / Secret spiller
38. A lightbulb that flickers
Meaning: Someone whose friendship comes and goes
Give an Instance: Sometimes she’s kind, sometimes cold a lightbulb that flickers. / His care is never steady.
Substitute Meaning: Unsteady friend / Not always there
39. A pen that won’t write
Meaning: A friend who never helps when needed
Give an Instance: I needed help, but she was a pen that won’t write useless. / He said he’d show up but didn’t.
Substitute Meaning: Not helpful / Lets you down
40. A tree that only gives shade to itself
Meaning: A friend who only cares about themselves
Give an Instance: She didn’t care how I felt like a tree that gives shade only to itself. / He only helped when it helped him.
Substitute Meaning: Self-centered / Doesn’t care
41. A fake fire
Meaning: Looks warm but gives no real comfort
Give an Instance: Her friendship looked kind but felt cold like a fake fire. / He smiled, but it wasn’t real.
Substitute Meaning: Pretend warmth / Not caring
42. A flashlight with no batteries
Meaning: Someone who can’t help in the dark times
Give an Instance: I needed support, but she was a flashlight with no batteries. / He was no help when I was sad.
Substitute Meaning: Not helpful in trouble / No support
43. A gift with nothing inside
Meaning: Looks nice but has no value
Give an Instance: Her words were sweet, but empty a gift with nothing inside. / He acted nice but didn’t mean it.
Substitute Meaning: False kindness / Empty promises
44. A puzzle with missing pieces
Meaning: A friendship that doesn’t feel whole
Give an Instance: It always felt like something was missing a puzzle with missing pieces. / We never fully connected.
Substitute Meaning: Not complete / Something’s off
45. A mirror that only shows itself
Meaning: A friend who only talks about themselves
Give an Instance: She never asked how I was just a mirror that only shows itself. / He only cared about his own story.
Substitute Meaning: Self-absorbed / Not thoughtful
Find the “Metaphors About Fake Friends”
Reading Passage
Last week, our class had a big group project. Everyone was excited to work together at first. I picked Jenny as my partner because she smiled a lot and acted friendly. But when we got started, she became a puzzle with missing pieces. She didn’t show up for group meetings or help with the poster.
When I asked her why, she said she was “too busy,” but later I saw her playing games on her tablet. It felt like being stuck with a pen that won’t write. During the final project, she stood with the group and took credit for the work. It was like having a gift with nothing inside.
Later, she told our teacher she did most of it. I couldn’t believe it a sponge that leaks. I wanted to talk to her, but she was like a mirror that only shows itself. She only talked about how hard she worked.
At lunch, I sat with Kyle. He used to be friends with Jenny too. He told me, “She’s like a balloon full of hot air says a lot, does little.” We both laughed. Then he added, “You’re not alone. She’s a firework that fizzles. Fun for a second, then gone.”
Now I know that not everyone who smiles is a true friend. I want friends who are steady, not like a lightbulb that flickers. Next time, I’ll look for friends who are real not just a book with a fake cover.
Task for Students
Underline or list all the metaphors used to describe fake friends in this story.
Answer Key
- A puzzle with missing pieces
- A pen that won’t write
- A gift with nothing inside
- A sponge that leaks
- A mirror that only shows itself
- A balloon full of hot air
- A firework that fizzles
- A lightbulb that flickers
- A book with a fake cover
Conclusion
Fake friends can be tricky. They may act nice, but their actions show they are not true. Using metaphors helps us describe these people in simple and strong ways.
Phrases like “a sponge that leaks” or “a tree with no roots” paint a clear picture. They help us talk about fake friends without needing to say a lot. If you learn these metaphors, you can better understand how to choose kind and honest friends.
