close friend: a very good friend.
enjoy each other’s company: to like spending time with each other.
| Steve and Noah are always together, they definitely enjoy each others company.
fair-weather friend: someone who is your friend only when you are cheerful and successful.
| A lot of John’s friends turned out to be fair-weather friends. They were with him when he was rich and left him when he went bankrupt.
friends are like second family: that is to say your friends love you and make you feel comfortable.
get in touch with somebody: to contact somebody.
| I plan to get in touch with my friends when I return home.
near and dear to someone: very important to someone.
| Her parents are the only people who are near and dear to her.
shoulder to cry on: someone who is always ready to listen to your problems.
| I’m so glad my boyfriend is so kind and sympathetic, it’s good to always have a shoulder to cry on.
to be through thick and thin: to have some good times and difficult times together.
| Your parents are married for 15 years, they must have been through thick and thin together.
to be well-matched: to be similar to somebody in interests.
| They are well-matched.
to break up: to end a relationship.
| It is hard to believe that Jacob and Sarah broke up. They were dating since high school.
to drift apart: to become less close to someone.
| As years went by, school friends drifted apart.
to fall for someone (to fall in love with someone): to start loving somebody.
| They were childhood friends, and he fell for her!
to fall out with: to quarrel, to have a conflict.
| He left the party after falling out with his girlfriend.
to get on like a house on fire: people get on like a house on fire when they like each other’s company and become friends very quickly.
| I like my new roommate! We have a lot of same interests and get on like a house on fire.
to get on well with somebody: to have a good relationship with somebody.
| I’m an outgoing person and I easily get on well with new people.
to get to know someone: to become acquainted with someone.
| I thought Jenna was selfish until I got to know her and understood her real character.
to have a lot in common: to have similar interests.
to have friends in high places: to have friends in powerful positions in business or government.
| Joe owes his fast career growth to his friends in high places.
to hit it off with somebody: to quickly become close friends with somebody.
| I could not imagine that Laura will hit it off with Dylan! They are so different.
to keep in touch with someone: to maintain contact with someone.
| I keep in touch with my friends from high school, although we graduated five years ago.
to lose touch with someone: to lose contact with someone.
| I lost touch with Mary since she moved to Canada.
to see eye to eye: to agree.
| I think it’s better to live in a big city, but my brother doesn’t see eye to eye with me about it.
to strike up (a conversation, a relationship): to start.
| I feel awkward when I strike up a conversation with unknown people.
ups and downs: a mixture of good and bad things that happen.
| We’re friends for almost 30 years! Surely we’ve had our ups and downs.
IELTS Speaking sample about Friends
Part 1
Do you have a lot of friends?
Not a lot, but I have a few very close friends … I think it is better to have one reliable friend that a thousand fair-weather friends… Although it’s not easy to meet someone you have a lot in common with, I think managed to do it.
How often do you see your friends?
As often as I can… We enjoy each other’s company, so we see each other almost daily… What’s more, we live very close to each other, so it’s easy for us to meet up.
Is there anything special about your friends?
Oh, that’s an interesting question… I guess there are lot of things… For instance, my best friend can draw unbelievable art, good enough to sell. And my other friend is really keen on cooking… But most importantly, they are people, who are near and dear to my heart.
For how long do you know them?
I’ve known my friends since my childhood… We’ve been through thick and thin together… Probably that’s why we’re so close now.
Part 2
Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe your friend. You should say:
– Who is he/she
– When did you meet
– Why is he/she so close to you
and say what do you like about your friend the most
I would like to talk about my friend William… I wouldn’t say he’s my best friend, but I would rather call him as a good friend of mine… I met him last year at local sports centre. It turned out that we were studying at the same college… Then, miraculously, I got into the same class with him and we got on like a house on fire… He’s the sweetest person I’ve ever met! He’s smart, helpful, caring, funny and somehow good-looking… And most importantly, we have a lot in common and he understands me as nobody else does.
Part 3
Do you think friendship is important nowadays?
Yes, certainly! Without my friends I’d be very sad and lonely, but they cheer me up and help in every way possible… Of course, all relationships have their ups and downs, but we should definitely try not to lose touch with our friends.
What do you think is the best time to get new friends?
Hmm… Probably, the best time to get new friends is your school and university years. You have many possibilities to get in touch with different people… And it is easier to find friends with similar interests…
Is it important to stay in touch with your friends throughout the years?
Yes, it very important not to lose touch with your friends… Surely, everyone changes and even close friends can drift apart. But, in my opinion, friends are your second family and we should highly appreciate them.