Fill in the blank with the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom : Rakesh had to deal with all his problems by himself, because he didn't want to depend on his fair weather friends.

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

The idiom "fair weather friends" refers to people who are loyal and present only when things are going well (during "fair weather," or good times) but abandon or disappear when difficulties arise (during "bad weather," or trouble). The usage implies a lack of true commitment or genuine affection, highlighting that the friendship is superficial and conditional on the other person's success or comfort. In the sentence, "Rakesh had to deal with all his problems by himself, because he didn't want to depend on his fair weather friends," the context clearly indicates that Rakesh faced problems (bad times) and avoided depending on these friends because he knew they would not offer support in adversity. Therefore, Option 2, "Friends who are loyal only during a time of success," perfectly captures the meaning of this common English idiom.

The incorrect option is 1:
"Friends who come from rich family" is incorrect because the idiom relates to the conditionality of loyalty, not the financial background of the friends. A "fair weather friend" can be rich or poor; the key trait is their lack of support during hardship.

The incorrect option is 3:
"Friends with whom one lived in one's college time" is incorrect as this option describes a past association or relationship based on shared living space, which has no direct connection to the loyalty or reliability of the friendship during difficult times.

The incorrect option is 4:
"Friends who no longer live with you" is incorrect. This option, like Option 3, focuses on geographical presence or absence rather than the emotional or supportive quality of the friendship. A friend who moves away could still be a true, loyal friend, which contradicts the negative connotation of a "fair weather friend."