What does “Adversity makes strange bedfellows.” mean?
"Adversity makes strange bedfellows" means that in difficult times, people may form unexpected alliances or friendships with those they wouldn’t normally associate with. This proverb means that adversity can bring people together in unexpected ways.
What context can I use the in?
Example
Despite their differences, they found themselves working together to overcome the challenges they faced. Adversity makes strange bedfellows.
Example
In times of crisis, people often set aside their differences and unite for a common cause. Adversity makes strange bedfellows.
Example
They never would have imagined becoming friends, but the difficult circumstances they found themselves in forced them to rely on each other. *Adversity makes strange bedfellows.
Is “Adversity makes strange bedfellows.” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?
“Adversity makes strange bedfellows.” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.
How would I use “Adversity makes strange bedfellows.” effectively in context?
You can use "Adversity makes strange bedfellows" to describe situations where people who wouldn't normally associate with each other form unexpected alliances or friendships in difficult times. For example, if two coworkers with different political views work together to solve a challenging problem, you might say, 'They may not agree on everything, but adversity makes strange bedfellows.'
- 1Politics
Despite their ideological differences, the politicians formed an alliance to address the crisis. Adversity makes strange bedfellows.
- 2Sports
Rival teams put aside their differences and joined forces to support a teammate in need. Adversity makes strange bedfellows.
- 3Community
Neighbors who rarely interacted before came together to help each other during a natural disaster. Adversity makes strange bedfellows.
Similar phrases to “Adversity makes strange bedfellows.”:
Good things to know:
Where does the phrase “Adversity makes strange bedfellows.” come from?
The origin of the phrase "Adversity makes strange bedfellows" is unknown.
Is “Adversity makes strange bedfellows.” common in everyday conversation?
"Adversity makes strange bedfellows" is a moderately common proverb in everyday conversation. It is often used to explain unexpected alliances or friendships that form during challenging times.
What tone does “Adversity makes strange bedfellows.” have?
"Adversity makes strange bedfellows" conveys a tone of surprise and recognition of the power of adversity to bring people together. It highlights the unexpected nature of the relationships that are formed.
Can “Adversity makes strange bedfellows.” be used in informal and formal settings?
"Adversity makes strange bedfellows" can be used in both informal and formal settings. It is a well-known proverb that can be used in various contexts to describe unexpected alliances or friendships.
Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?
"Adversity makes strange bedfellows" is commonly used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'In times of crisis, people often set aside their differences because adversity makes strange bedfellows.' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the proverb even if used alone, like saying 'Adversity makes strange bedfellows!' to imply the formation of unexpected alliances.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- difficult times create unexpected alliances
- challenges bring unlikely companions
- hardship forms unusual partnerships
- adversity leads to strange connections
Antonyms
- stability keeps friends apart
- prosperity maintains social boundaries
- comfort preserves familiar relationships
- ease prevents unusual associations
