Sometimes we meet people who seem like friends but do not really care about us. These people are called fake friends. They might say nice things but do not help or support us when we need it. It can feel confusing when someone acts like a friend but is not.
Writers use similes to help us understand what fake friends are like. A simile is when we compare one thing to another using the words “like” or “as.” For example, saying a fake friend is like a shadow means they follow you only when things are good. Similes make it easier to see and feel what it is like to have fake friends.
Similes about Fake Friends
1. Like a shadow
Meaning: Follows you only when things are good.
To Provide an Example: He was like a shadow, always near when I had toys. / She was like a shadow, but she left when I needed help.
Alternative Meaning: Stays close only sometimes. / Not really there when it counts.
2. Like a broken mirror
Meaning: Looks like a friend but is not whole or true.
To Provide an Example: His smile was like a broken mirror, fake and cracked. / She gave me a broken mirror kind of friendship.
Alternative Meaning: Not real or honest. / Pretending to be a friend.
3. Like a leaf in the wind
Meaning: Changes quickly and is not steady.
To Provide an Example: He is like a leaf in the wind, never sticking around. / She changes friends like a leaf in the wind.
Alternative Meaning: Moves away fast. / Hard to trust.
4. Like a hollow tree
Meaning: Looks strong but empty inside.
To Provide an Example: His words were like a hollow tree, full of nothing. / She seemed kind but was like a hollow tree.
Alternative Meaning: Not caring inside. / Empty friendship.
5. Like a glass toy
Meaning: Looks pretty but breaks easily.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a glass toy; it broke with one fight. / He was like a glass toy, fragile and fake.
Alternative Meaning: Easy to hurt. / Not strong friendship.
6. Like a painted smile
Meaning: Pretends to be happy but is not.
To Provide an Example: Her painted smile hid how she really felt. / He gave me a painted smile, but he was not kind.
Alternative Meaning: Fake happiness. / Not true feelings.
7. Like a two-faced coin
Meaning: Shows one side but hides another.
To Provide an Example: He was like a two-faced coin, nice in front but mean behind. / She acted like a two-faced coin with her friends.
Alternative Meaning: Pretends one way. / Shows lies.
8. Like a thin ice
Meaning: Unsafe and easy to fall through.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like thin ice, ready to break. / He stood on thin ice when he said mean things.
Alternative Meaning: Not safe to trust. / Can break fast.
9. Like a paper boat
Meaning: Fragile and will sink in hard times.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a paper boat in the rain. / She was like a paper boat, gone when things got tough.
Alternative Meaning: Weak friendship. / Not steady.
10. Like a faded picture
Meaning: Not clear or strong anymore.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship is like a faded picture, hard to see. / His promises are like a faded picture.
Alternative Meaning: Losing importance. / Not strong.
11. Like a candle in the wind
Meaning: Easy to blow out or end.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship is like a candle in the wind. / His care was like a candle that blew out fast.
Alternative Meaning: Not lasting. / Weak support.
12. Like a cracked vase
Meaning: Broken but tries to look whole.
To Provide an Example: Her kindness was like a cracked vase, broken inside. / He smiled like a cracked vase, hiding the cracks.
Alternative Meaning: Not perfect. / Hides flaws.
13. Like a fake flower
Meaning: Looks real but is not alive.
To Provide an Example: His love was like a fake flower, only for show. / She gave fake flower kind of friendship.
Alternative Meaning: Pretends to care. / Not real.
14. Like a toy with no batteries
Meaning: Has no energy or real help.
To Provide an Example: He was like a toy with no batteries when I needed him. / She acted like a toy with no batteries, useless in hard times.
Alternative Meaning: No real support. / Not helpful.
15. Like a gust of wind
Meaning: Comes and goes quickly.
To Provide an Example: He is like a gust of wind, gone before you notice. / She left like a gust of wind.
Alternative Meaning: Not steady. / Leaves fast.
16. Like a locked door
Meaning: Not open to help or friendship.
To Provide an Example: He was like a locked door, never letting me in. / Her heart was like a locked door.
Alternative Meaning: Closed off. / Not friendly.
17. Like a plastic smile
Meaning: Fake and not real happiness.
To Provide an Example: She showed a plastic smile but did not care. / His plastic smile made me sad.
Alternative Meaning: Pretends to be happy. / Not sincere.
18. Like a broken clock
Meaning: Sometimes right, mostly wrong or useless.
To Provide an Example: He is like a broken clock, not always there for me. / She was like a broken clock, only kind sometimes.
Alternative Meaning: Not reliable. / Untrustworthy.
19. Like a paper mask
Meaning: Hides true feelings easily.
To Provide an Example: He wore a paper mask to hide his real thoughts. / Her paper mask fooled many.
Alternative Meaning: Pretends. / Hides truth.
20. Like a fading star
Meaning: Once bright but now disappearing.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a fading star. / He shined then disappeared like a fading star.
Alternative Meaning: Not shining anymore. / Leaving.
21. Like a spilled glass of water
Meaning: Hard to fix once broken.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a spilled glass of water, messy and gone. / She treated me like a spilled glass of water.
Alternative Meaning: Hard to fix. / Lost.
22. Like a popped balloon
Meaning: Fun but ends quickly.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a popped balloon, all gone. / He was like a popped balloon at parties.
Alternative Meaning: Ends fast. / Not lasting.
23. Like a shadow on a sunny day
Meaning: Only there when things are bright.
To Provide an Example: She was like a shadow on a sunny day, gone in the rain. / He followed me only in happy times.
Alternative Meaning: Not there in hard times. / Only around for fun.
24. Like a weak bridge
Meaning: Can break when you rely on it.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a weak bridge, ready to fall. / He was like a weak bridge when I needed help.
Alternative Meaning: Not strong support. / Untrustworthy.
25. Like a fake friend’s hug
Meaning: Feels warm but is not real.
To Provide an Example: His hug was like a fake friend’s hug, empty and cold. / She gave a fake friend’s hug before leaving.
Alternative Meaning: Pretends to care. / Not sincere.
26. Like a broken promise
Meaning: Says something but does not keep it.
To Provide an Example: He gave me a broken promise about playing together. / She made a broken promise to help me.
Alternative Meaning: Not trustworthy. / Does not do what they say.
27. Like a glass that cracks easily
Meaning: Fragile and can break at any time.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like glass that cracks easily. / He acted like a glass that cracks easily.
Alternative Meaning: Not strong. / Easily hurt.
28. Like a bird that flies away
Meaning: Leaves quickly without warning.
To Provide an Example: She was like a bird that flies away when I needed her. / He left like a bird that flies away.
Alternative Meaning: Not steady. / Leaves fast.
29. Like a toy that breaks fast
Meaning: Not made to last.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a toy that breaks fast. / He was like a toy that breaks fast when things got hard.
Alternative Meaning: Not strong. / Ends quickly.
30. Like a cloud that disappears
Meaning: Goes away quickly.
To Provide an Example: She was like a cloud that disappears when it rains. / He left like a cloud that disappears.
Alternative Meaning: Not always there. / Leaves fast.
31. Like a leaf that falls early
Meaning: Leaves before the right time.
To Provide an Example: He was like a leaf that falls early in fall. / She left like a leaf that falls early.
Alternative Meaning: Leaves before needed. / Not reliable.
32. Like a boat without a sail
Meaning: Lost and cannot go forward.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a boat without a sail. / He was like a boat without a sail when I needed help.
Alternative Meaning: Not helpful. / Cannot guide.
33. Like a cookie with no sugar
Meaning: Not sweet or kind.
To Provide an Example: Her words were like a cookie with no sugar. / He was like a cookie with no sugar to me.
Alternative Meaning: Not nice. / Not caring.
34. Like a rope that frays
Meaning: Breaking apart slowly.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a rope that frays. / He felt like a rope that frays when we fought.
Alternative Meaning: Falling apart. / Weakening bond.
35. Like a wind that blows away
Meaning: Leaves suddenly.
To Provide an Example: She was like a wind that blows away. / He disappeared like a wind that blows away.
Alternative Meaning: Not steady. / Leaves fast.
36. Like a shadow in the dark
Meaning: Hard to see or trust.
To Provide an Example: He was like a shadow in the dark. / Her help was like a shadow in the dark, hard to find.
Alternative Meaning: Not clear. / Not real.
37. Like a book with missing pages
Meaning: Not complete or true.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a book with missing pages. / He told stories like a book with missing pages.
Alternative Meaning: Not whole. / Leaves out important parts.
38. Like a fake diamond
Meaning: Looks real but is not valuable.
To Provide an Example: She was like a fake diamond, shiny but fake. / His friendship was like a fake diamond.
Alternative Meaning: Pretends to be special. / Not true.
39. Like a toy that won’t work
Meaning: Does not do what it should.
To Provide an Example: He was like a toy that won’t work when I asked for help. / She acted like a toy that won’t work.
Alternative Meaning: Not useful. / Does not help.
40. Like a rainbow that fades
Meaning: Beautiful but does not last.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a rainbow that fades after rain. / He was like a rainbow that fades too fast.
Alternative Meaning: Not lasting. / Goes away.
41. Like a tree with no roots
Meaning: Not grounded or steady.
To Provide an Example: She was like a tree with no roots, always moving. / He felt like a tree with no roots in our friendship.
Alternative Meaning: Not steady. / Moves away easily.
42. Like a bell that doesn’t ring
Meaning: Does not make a sound or help.
To Provide an Example: His support was like a bell that doesn’t ring. / She was like a bell that doesn’t ring when I needed help.
Alternative Meaning: Not helpful. / Does not respond.
43. Like a broken kite
Meaning: Cannot fly or reach goals.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a broken kite that won’t fly. / He felt like a broken kite without friends.
Alternative Meaning: Not working well. / Can’t go far.
44. Like a dried-up flower
Meaning: Once nice but now lifeless.
To Provide an Example: Their friendship was like a dried-up flower. / He felt like a dried-up flower when friends left.
Alternative Meaning: Not alive or happy. / Gone bad.
45. Like a cracked phone screen
Meaning: Broken but still used.
To Provide an Example: Their words were like a cracked phone screen. / He had a cracked phone screen kind of friendship.
Alternative Meaning: Broken trust. / Damaged but kept.
46. Like a train off the tracks
Meaning: Not going the right way.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a train off the tracks. / He was like a train off the tracks when I needed him.
Alternative Meaning: Lost direction. / Not steady.
47. Like a flickering light
Meaning: Goes on and off, not steady.
To Provide an Example: His care was like a flickering light. / She was like a flickering light in friendship.
Alternative Meaning: Not reliable. / Changes quickly.
48. Like a cold fire
Meaning: Looks warm but feels cold.
To Provide an Example: His friendship was like a cold fire. / She gave a cold fire kind of smile.
Alternative Meaning: Pretends to care. / Not warm or kind.
49. Like a frozen river
Meaning: Stuck and does not move.
To Provide an Example: Our friendship was like a frozen river, not growing. / He was like a frozen river when I needed help.
Alternative Meaning: Not changing. / Not helping.
50. Like a cracked window
Meaning: Broken but still looks okay.
To Provide an Example: Their friendship was like a cracked window. / She was like a cracked window, hiding cracks.
Alternative Meaning: Broken but hiding it. / Not perfect.
Trials for Success: Similes about Fake Friends
- He stayed close like a _______ on a sunny day but left when it rained.
- Her smile was like a _______ but not really happy.
- When I needed help, he was gone like a _______ blowing away.
- Our friendship was as weak as _______ ice, ready to break.
- She pretended to care like a _______ flower that looked nice but was dead.
- His promises were like a _______ that never came true.
- He acted like a _______ that breaks fast when things got tough.
- Our bond was like a _______ that frays and falls apart slowly.
- She was like a _______ with no batteries, no energy to help.
- His friendship felt like a _______ that disappears fast.
- She hid her true feelings behind a _______.
- Their words were like a _______ phone screen, broken but still there.
- Our friendship was like a _______ that fades after the rain.
- He was like a _______ that flies away when I needed him.
- She was like a _______ that flickers and cannot stay steady.
Answers
- shadow on a sunny day
- painted smile
- gust of wind
- thin ice
- dried-up flower
- broken promise
- toy that breaks fast
- rope that frays
- toy with no batteries
- cloud that disappears
- paper mask
- cracked phone screen
- rainbow that fades
- bird that flies away
- flickering light
Conclusion
Fake friends can be hard to understand. They might seem nice but do not always stay or help. Using similes helps us see what fake friends are like by comparing them to things we know.
These comparisons make it easier to know when someone is a real friend or a fake one. Remember, good friends stay with you, just like a strong tree or a bright light. Keep looking for friends who care and are true to you.
