How to use "through thick and thin"

What Does "through thick and thin" Mean?

The idiom "through thick and thin" means to remain loyal, committed, or persistent regardless of the circumstances, especially during difficult or challenging times. It suggests a steadfastness that survives both prosperity and adversity.

• Idiomatic meaning: It refers to enduring all possible obstacles and hardships without giving up. If you stay with someone "through thick and thin," you support them during the "thick" (good/prosperous) times and the "thin" (difficult/lean) times.
• Origin: This is one of the oldest idioms in the English language, dating back to at least the 14th century (found in the works of Chaucer). It originally referred to riding a horse through a "thicket" (dense undergrowth) and "thin" (open wood or sparse vegetation), implying a journey taken regardless of the terrain.
• Register: Neutral to informal. It is widely used in journalism, literature, and everyday conversation to describe relationships, sports fandom, or political loyalty.

How to Use It

• Grammatical flexibility: The phrase acts as an adverbial or prepositional phrase. It is almost always used at the end of a sentence or immediately following the verb it modifies (e.g., "I will stand by you through thick and thin"). It is rarely negated directly (one wouldn't say "not through thick and thin") and is rarely used in questions.
• What sounds unnatural: Using the phrase to describe literal physical dimensions (like the thickness of a wall) is incorrect. Furthermore, it should not be modified with adjectives like "very thick and thin." It is a fixed binomial pair; changing the order to "thin and thick" sounds distinctly wrong to native speakers.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from through thick and thin on Ludwig.guru.

"She's my friend through thick and thin." — nytimes.com

"They follow their clubs through thick and thin." — independent.co.uk

"I have stood by Israel through thick and thin." — independent.co.uk

"He stuck with the project through thick and thin." — nytimes.com

"Like cockroaches, they've managed to survive eons, through thick and thin, through asteroids and everything." — washingtonpost.com

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
come rain or shine	Focuses on reliability regardless of external circumstances or weather.
for better or worse	Often used in the context of marriage or long-term legal commitments.
through fire and water	A more dramatic, slightly archaic way to describe facing extreme danger.
in good times and bad	A literal, straightforward alternative often used in speeches.
to the bitter end	Emphasizes staying until the very conclusion, even if the outcome is negative.

Common Mistakes

• Preposition Error: Learners often use the wrong preposition, such as saying "in thick and thin" instead of the correct "through thick and thin."
• Omission: Another common mistake is omitting the second "and," resulting in the incomplete phrase "through thick thin."
• Literalism: Avoid using the phrase to describe physical consistency (e.g., "the soup was through thick and thin") as it is strictly a figurative expression for loyalty and perseverance.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Idiomatic Meaning	Register	Avoid In
through thick and thin	To support or stay with something/someone through all difficulties	Neutral / Informal	Literal descriptions of physical thickness

FAQs

Can "through thick and thin" be used in a literal sense?

While the expression originated from the literal act of riding through dense and sparse woods, it is now used exclusively as a figurative idiom. You should only use it to describe loyalty or persistence during varying life circumstances, never to describe physical objects.

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What is the difference between "through thick and thin" and "come rain or shine"?

While both imply consistency, "through thick and thin" specifically emphasizes surviving hardships and major life obstacles. In contrast, "come rain or shine" is more about reliability and showing up regardless of the situation or environment.

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Is it correct to say "in thick and thin" if I am talking about a situation?

No, using the preposition "in" is a common mistake; the correct preposition is always "through." Additionally, learners should ensure they do not omit the second "and" to maintain the proper idiomatic structure.