close friend — very good friend
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcore
Someone you know very well and trust a lot; a person you share personal things with and spend a lot of time with.
Say it like a native
Textbook He is an individual with whom I share a profound bond of intimacy.
Native He's a close friend of mine.
'An individual with whom I share a profound bond' is painfully formal; 'a close friend of mine' is normal.
Pattern: close friend (noun phrase); usually used as 'a close friend' or 'my close friend'
In use
- Sarah is my close friend—we've known each other since primary school.relationships
- I believe having a close friend is important because you can share your feelings and support each other in difficult times.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ He's my close friend since childhood.
✓ He's a close friend of mine from childhood. / We've been close friends since childhood.
Use 'a close friend of mine', not 'my close friend', in this frame.
Common collocations
a close friend— of mine, a, very, one of my
Don't confuse it
A 'close friend' is stronger than just a 'friend' or 'acquaintance'.