"through thick and thin" 是一个固定短语,用来形容不顾艰难险阻、始终相伴;同甘共苦,风雨同舟(强调无论处境好坏,都忠诚地陪伴或支持对方)。
其中:
"thick" 原指“茂密的森林/灌木丛”(象征困难、阻碍);
"thin" 原指“稀疏的植被”(象征顺利、轻松)。
整体引申为“穿越荆棘与坦途”,即经历所有起伏,始终不离不弃。
该短语通常用于描述人际关系中的忠诚陪伴(如朋友、伴侣、家人),常与表示“坚持、陪伴”的动词搭配(如 stick with, stand by, go through, support 等)。
主语 + 动词 + sb + through thick and thin(某人陪伴/支持某人经历风雨)
go through thick and thin with sb(与某人同甘共苦)
朋友之间:
She’s my best friend—she’s stuck with me through thick and thin, even when I made mistakes.
(她是我最好的朋友——即使我犯错,她也一直陪我同甘共苦。)
伴侣之间:
Marriage means promising to love each other through thick and thin.
(婚姻意味着承诺无论顺境逆境都彼此相爱。)
家人之间:
My parents have supported me through thick and thin since I was a kid.
(从我小时候起,父母就一直支持我,无论风雨。)
更简洁的表达:
We’ve been through thick and thin together—nothing can break our bond.
(我们一起经历了风风雨雨——没有什么能打破我们的纽带。)
该短语是不可拆分的固定搭配,不能替换成“through thin and thick”(顺序固定);
通常用于积极的、强调忠诚的语境,不用于描述“被迫经历困难”(如 I had to go through thick and thin 不自然,更适合用 I had to overcome many difficulties)。
总结:"through thick and thin" 是表达“不离不弃、同甘共苦”的经典短语,核心是强调关系中的“始终陪伴”,适用于所有亲密且持久的人际关系。