defend a friend

Meaning

This phrase means to support, protect, or speak in favor of a friend who is being criticized, attacked, or accused of something. It represents loyalty and standing up for someone in their absence or when they are vulnerable.

Examples

• A true companion will always defend a friend when others are gossiping about them.

  A true companion will always defend a friend when others are gossiping about them.

• She didn't hesitate to defend a friend who was being falsely accused at work.

  She didn't hesitate to defend a friend who was being falsely accused at work.

• It can be difficult to defend a friend when you know they actually made a mistake.

  It can be difficult to defend a friend when you know they actually made a mistake.

• He stood up in court to defend a friend who was facing unfair charges.

  He stood up in court to defend a friend who was facing unfair charges.

• Even in a heated argument, she felt a strong duty to defend a friend.

  Even in a heated argument, she felt a strong duty to defend a friend.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She tried to defend for a friend during the argument.

  ✓ She tried to defend a friend during the argument.

  Defend is a transitive verb and does not require the preposition for when followed directly by the object.

• ✗ I will protect my friend's name.

  ✓ I will defend a friend.

  While protect my friend's name is grammatically correct, defend a friend is the more direct and natural conversational idiom for standing up for someone.

Related Expressions

Practice

• When people started spreading rumors, Mark stepped in to ___.

  💡 Stand up for someone close to him.

  Show answer

  defend a friend

• Loyalty means being willing to ___ even when it's unpopular.

  💡 Protect a companion from criticism.

  Show answer

  defend a friend