through thick and thin

adverb

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

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Meanings

adverb
  1. idiomaticThrough all (especially grim, rough and difficult) conditions; in all weathers.

    Mr. Trump’s followers have supported him through thick and thin, and political reaction so far has been dividing more along partisan than ideological lines.

    2025 June 22, Luke Broadwater, “Trump Picks a Side on Entering the War in Iran, for Now”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
no matter what

Origin

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

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans deur dik en dun
  • deur dik en dunthrough all (difficult) conditions
Dutch door dik en dun
  • door dik en dunthrough all (difficult) conditions
German durch dick und dünn
  • durch dick und dünnthrough all (difficult) conditions
Hungarian jóban-rosszban
  • jóban-rosszbanthrough all (difficult) conditions
Icelandic í gegnum súrt og sætt
  • í gegnum súrt og sættthrough all (difficult) conditions
Irish mín agus garbh
  • mín agus garbhthrough all (difficult) conditions
Swedish i vått och torrt, i regn och rusk
  • i vått och torrtthrough all (difficult) conditions
  • i regn och ruskthrough all (difficult) conditions
  • i ur och skurthrough all (difficult) conditions
Cite this entry
APA

through thick and thin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/through%20thick%20and%20thin

MLA

“through thick and thin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/through%20thick%20and%20thin. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “through thick and thin,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/through%20thick%20and%20thin.

Source: through thick and thin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.