confide in someone

Meaning

To confide in someone means to share private thoughts, secrets, or personal feelings with them because you trust them. It is often used when discussing close friendships, family relationships, or therapeutic conversations. The tone is supportive and intimate, implying a deep level of mutual trust.

Examples

• She felt she could confide in her sister about her relationship problems.

  She felt she could confide in her sister about her relationship problems.

• It's important to have at least one close friend you can confide in.

  It's important to have at least one close friend you can confide in.

• He confided in his mentor when he was struggling to make a career choice.

  He confided in his mentor when he was struggling to make a career choice.

• I wouldn't confide in him if I were you; he's terrible at keeping secrets.

  I wouldn't confide in him if I were you; he's terrible at keeping secrets.

• After keeping her worries to herself for months, she finally confided in her mother.

  After keeping her worries to herself for months, she finally confided in her mother.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I confided my secret in my best friend.

  ✓ I confided in my best friend about my secret.

  Confide requires the preposition 'in' directly after the verb when referring to the person you trust. You confide in someone, or you confide a secret to someone.

• ✗ She confided her colleague during the lunch break.

  ✓ She confided in her colleague during the lunch break.

  You cannot use 'confide' as a direct transitive verb with a person. You must use the preposition 'in'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you are feeling overwhelmed, it helps to find a close friend to ___.

  💡 share your private feelings with someone you trust

  Show answer

  confide in

• She decided to ___ her teacher about the bullying she was experiencing.

  💡 trust someone with a personal problem

  Show answer

  confide in