Phrase guide

through thick and thin

adv · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adv

Meaning 1

Through all (especially grim, rough and difficult) conditions; in all weathers.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From thick and thin, meaning: “thick (dense) and thin woodland; all obstacles in a path”.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: deur dik en dun — through all (difficult) conditions
  • Dutch: door dik en dun — through all (difficult) conditions
  • German: durch dick und dünn — through all (difficult) conditions
  • Hungarian: jóban-rosszban — through all (difficult) conditions
  • Icelandic: í gegnum súrt og sætt — through all (difficult) conditions
  • Irish: mín agus garbh — through all (difficult) conditions
  • Swedish: i vått och torrt — through all (difficult) conditions
  • Swedish: i regn och rusk — through all (difficult) conditions
  • Swedish: i ur och skur — through all (difficult) conditions