making friends
Forming new bonds
Making friends is the process of forming new friendships—moving from stranger or acquaintance to friend.
The phrase emphasizes active effort: She's good at making friends, He made friends easily at his new school.
To make friends with someone is to befriend them specifically.
The expression can sound childlike when applied to adults, though it remains standard: It's harder making friends after thirty.
- social clubsMember-based gathering organizations
- socializingEngaging with others recreationally
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
- welcomeHospitable greeting offered
- smilePleased facial expression
rapport · confidant · support system · connection · kindred spirit · approachability · icebreaker · common ground · mutual interests · vulnerability · open book · good listener · trust · wave · joke · interacting · soulmate · inner circle
- social skillssocial skills, conversation, sharing, helping, listening
- child developmentbaby, toddler, newborn, infancy, milestones
- childhood friendshipplaymates, sharing, birthday parties, sleepovers, recess
- expatexpat, expat community, expat bubble, relocation, overseas posting
- baby bookfirst steps, first words, first smile, first tooth, birth weight
- infant developmentbabbling, developmental milestones, crawling, first steps, developmental delay
making friendscutting ties
Ending a relationship completely
burning bridges · severing ties · drifting apart · ghosting · unfriending
making friendsisolation
Complete separation from others
self-isolation · withdrawing · keeping to oneself · social withdrawal · hermit lifestyle
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