Trust means believing that someone is honest and will do the right thing. We all want people we can count on. To describe trust in fun and clear ways, people often use idioms. Idioms are special phrases that don’t always mean what the words say, but they help explain feelings better.
In this article, you’ll learn idioms that people use to talk about trust. Some show strong belief in someone, and others warn about being careful. These idioms can help you talk about who you trust and why it matters. Let’s explore 30 idioms about trust!
Idioms for Trust
1. Put your trust in someone
Meaning: Believe that someone will do the right thing.
Samples: I put my trust in my best friend. / We put our trust in the teacher to help us.
To Put it Another Way: I believe in them. / I know they’ll do what’s right.
2. Earn someone’s trust
Meaning: Prove that you can be trusted.
Samples: She earned my trust by keeping my secret. / He earned his teacher’s trust by working hard.
To Put it Another Way: They showed they are honest. / They proved we can count on them.
3. Break someone’s trust
Meaning: Do something that makes someone stop trusting you.
Samples: He broke my trust when he lied. / She broke their trust by cheating.
To Put it Another Way: They lost our trust. / We can’t believe in them now.
4. Take someone at their word
Meaning: Believe what someone says is true.
Samples: I took him at his word when he said he’d help. / She always tells the truth, so I take her at her word.
To Put it Another Way: I believe what they say. / I trust their words.
5. Trust your gut
Meaning: Believe your own feelings or instincts.
Samples: I trusted my gut and didn’t go. / She trusted her gut about the choice.
To Put it Another Way: I followed my feeling. / I listened to what I felt inside.
6. Keep the faith
Meaning: Stay hopeful and believe things will work out.
Samples: Keep the faith we’ll find your dog. / She told me to keep the faith when I was scared.
To Put it Another Way: Keep believing. / Don’t give up hope.
7. In good hands
Meaning: Being taken care of by someone trustworthy.
Samples: You’re in good hands with this coach. / My cat is in good hands at the vet.
To Put it Another Way: Someone safe is in charge. / They know what they’re doing.
8. Trust is a two-way street
Meaning: Both people must be honest with each other.
Samples: Trust is a two-way street; you have to give it to get it. / In friendship, trust is a two-way street.
To Put it Another Way: You both need to trust each other. / It works both ways.
9. Keep your word
Meaning: Do what you promised.
Samples: He kept his word and helped me clean. / She always keeps her word.
To Put it Another Way: She does what she says. / He keeps promises.
10. Go back on your word
Meaning: Break a promise.
Samples: He went back on his word and didn’t help. / She promised, then went back on her word.
To Put it Another Way: Didn’t do what was promised. / Broke a promise.
11. Win someone’s trust
Meaning: Make someone believe in you.
Samples: He won my trust by being kind. / She won her teacher’s trust.
To Put it Another Way: Gained trust. / Showed she can be trusted.
12. Trust falls apart
Meaning: Trust is lost or broken.
Samples: When he lied, the trust fell apart. / Their friendship ended when trust fell apart.
To Put it Another Way: They stopped trusting each other. / Trust was lost.
13. Faithful friend
Meaning: A friend you can always count on.
Samples: She’s a faithful friend, always there. / He’s been my faithful friend since second grade.
To Put it Another Way: A true friend. / Always trustworthy.
14. Count on someone
Meaning: Rely on someone to help.
Samples: I can count on him to help me. / You can count on her to be there.
To Put it Another Way: Trust them to help. / Depend on them.
15. Stand by someone
Meaning: Stay loyal and supportive.
Samples: She stood by me during the tough times. / He stood by his friend.
To Put it Another Way: Stayed loyal. / Didn’t leave me.
16. Build trust
Meaning: Slowly create a trusting relationship.
Samples: It takes time to build trust. / We built trust by talking more.
To Put it Another Way: Create trust over time. / Learn to trust each other.
17. Blind trust
Meaning: Trusting someone completely, even without proof.
Samples: He had blind trust in his friend. / Sometimes blind trust can be risky.
To Put it Another Way: Total trust. / Believe without checking.
18. Behind your back
Meaning: Done secretly, without telling you.
Samples: She talked behind my back. / They planned it behind his back.
To Put it Another Way: Secretly. / Without permission or honesty.
19. Pull the rug out from under
Meaning: Surprise someone by breaking trust.
Samples: He pulled the rug out from under me by canceling last minute. / She felt like the rug was pulled out from under her.
To Put it Another Way: Surprised with bad news. / Broke trust suddenly.
20. Hold something in confidence
Meaning: Keep a secret someone shared with you.
Samples: I held her story in confidence. / He told me in confidence.
To Put it Another Way: I didn’t tell anyone. / I kept it private.
21. Walk the talk
Meaning: Do what you say you will do.
Samples: She walks the talk, she always helps. / He says he cares, and he walks the talk.
To Put it Another Way: Actions match words. / She’s honest.
22. Burned by someone
Meaning: Hurt because you trusted someone and they let you down.
Samples: I got burned by a friend who lied. / He was burned before and doesn’t trust easily.
To Put it Another Way: Betrayed. / Let down by someone.
23. Keep a secret
Meaning: Not tell what someone has shared privately.
Samples: Can you keep a secret? / She knows how to keep a secret.
To Put it Another Way: Not tell anyone else. / Keep it private.
24. Honest to a fault
Meaning: Always honest, even when it’s hard.
Samples: He’s honest to a fault. / She’s honest to a fault, even if it hurts feelings.
To Put it Another Way: Always tells the truth. / Says what’s true, no matter what.
25. Break faith
Meaning: Lose someone’s belief or trust.
Samples: He broke faith with his team. / She broke faith when she didn’t show up.
To Put it Another Way: Lost trust. / Let people down.
26. Gain someone’s confidence
Meaning: Get someone to trust you.
Samples: He gained her confidence by listening. / She gained the coach’s confidence.
To Put it Another Way: Got their trust. / Became someone they could believe in.
27. Trust like family
Meaning: Trust someone very deeply.
Samples: I trust her like family. / We trust our neighbors like family.
To Put it Another Way: Very strong trust. / Like someone close.
28. Loyal to the core
Meaning: Fully trustworthy and dependable.
Samples: He’s loyal to the core. / She’s loyal to the core in every friendship.
To Put it Another Way: Always faithful. / Very dependable.
29. Stand in someone’s corner
Meaning: Support someone no matter what.
Samples: My friend stood in my corner when I was scared. / She always stands in my corner.
To Put it Another Way: Supports me always. / Believes in me.
30. Put your faith in someone
Meaning: Believe they will do what is right.
Samples: I put my faith in the team. / She put her faith in her brother to help.
To Put it Another Way: Believed in them. / Trusted they’d do the right thing.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Trust
Story Title: “The Secret Club”
Liam and Ava started a secret club in their treehouse. “Can you keep a secret?” Liam asked. “Of course,” Ava said. “You can count on me.”
They agreed to only let in friends they could put their trust in. Their first new member was Zoe. She had earned their trust by always keeping her word.
One day, Liam told Ava, “I heard someone talking behind our backs.” Ava looked shocked. “That breaks trust,” she said. “Trust is a two-way street.”
Later, Zoe stood in their corner. “I didn’t tell anyone,” she said. “You can take me at my word.” Ava nodded. “I believe you.”
“We’re lucky to have loyal friends,” Liam said. “Let’s keep the faith in each other.”
Your Task:
Underline or list all 8 idioms for trust used in the story.
Answer Key
- Keep a secret
- Count on me
- Put their trust in
- Earned their trust
- Keeping her word
- Behind our backs
- Trust is a two-way street
- Take me at my word
Conclusion
Idioms for trust help us describe how we feel about people we believe in. Whether we “count on” someone or “take them at their word,” these idioms make our words stronger and clearer.
Trust is an important part of friendship, teamwork, and family. When we use these idioms, we show others how much trust matters. Try using some of them next time you talk about someone you believe in, it will help your message feel true and kind.
