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Through thick and thin

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Through all difficulties and circumstances, remaining loyal or persistent.

Detailed Definition
From “thick” (dense forest) and “thin” (open field)—all terrains. In poetry, it vows steadfastness in love, friendship, or cause. Sonnets and odes use it to prove devotion beyond convenience. The landscape metaphor implies journey with companion through variable trials. Poets contrast it with fair-weather loyalty, making it central to works about fidelity, where consistency—not intensity—defines true bond. Its rhythmic balance (“thick and thin”) mirrors reliability, ideal for pledges in lyrical or ceremonial verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
Marriage sonnet: “Through thick and thin—job loss, illness, joy—we held hands”; Friendship ode: “Through thick and thin—her calls at 3 a.m., my silence honored”; Historical bond: “Allies through thick and thin—D-Day to peace treaties”; Parental love: “Through thick and thin—addiction, recovery, relapse—you never left”.
Additional Notes
From “thick” (dense forest) and “thin” (open field)—all terrains. In poetry, it vows steadfastness in love, friendship, or cause. Sonnets and odes use it to prove devotion beyond convenience. The landscape metaphor implies journey with companion through variable trials. Students should analyze how poets contrast it with fair-weather loyalty, making it central to works about fidelity, where consistency—not intensity—defines true bond. Its rhythmic balance (“thick and thin”) mirrors reliability, ideal for pledges in lyrical or ceremonial verse affirming enduring connection through adversity.
Also Known As
In good times and bad Loyal always
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