someone to confide in

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "someone to confide in" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to have someone you can trust and share your secrets and personal thoughts with. Example sentence: "I'm so grateful to have a loyal friend who is always there for me as someone to confide in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

The NPHS-Social Support section is comprised of four statements about having "someone to confide in", "someone one can count on in a crisis", "someone one can count on for advice", and "someone who makes one feel loved and cared for", with Yes/No response options.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Having someone to confide in can help you to overcome a blinkered approach to situations and allow you to set aside the suspicions.

WikiHow

They just wanted someone to confide in who wouldn't just go straight to the police.

The Guardian

"Growing up, I never had someone to confide in," he said.

The New York Times

It felt wonderful to have someone to confide in, someone she could trust not to gossip.

The New Yorker

According to the survey results, while 53.38% of respondents said they had someone to confide in, 33.65% did not.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Another variation stemmed from Dean's lack of someone to confide in normally Sam is his confidant.

Wikipedia

Perhaps try finding someone else to confide in, until you feel safer with your friend's partner, if that is possible.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Women valued having someone trustworthy to confide in who could provide practical and emotional support: "He's a very supportive person; he loves me; and things that I feel I have to keep secret, I can talk to him about" (p. 445) [ 38].

BMC Psychiatry

And if someone has chosen to confide in you, please listen.

Huffington Post

Find someone outside the company to confide in.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal contexts, consider using "confidant" as a more concise alternative to "someone to confide in".

Common error

Avoid using "someone to confide in" lightly; the phrase implies a deep level of trust and vulnerability. Ensure the context accurately reflects a relationship where such sharing is appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "someone to confide in" functions as a noun phrase. It refers to an individual who serves as a trusted recipient of personal thoughts, feelings, and secrets. Ludwig AI examples showcase its role in describing the need for emotional support and trustworthy relationships.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

26%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "someone to confide in" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a person you trust with your deepest thoughts and feelings. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase emphasizes the importance of emotional support and trustworthy relationships. While alternatives like "confidant" exist, the original phrase is widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Wiki sources. Therefore, when you need to express the value of having a trusted person in your life, "someone to confide in" is an appropriate and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a confidant

A more concise and formal term for someone in whom you confide.

a safe person to open up to

Focuses on the feeling of safety and security in sharing personal thoughts.

a trusted friend to share feelings with

Emphasizes the emotional sharing and the friendly nature of the relationship.

a person to trust with secrets

Focuses on the aspect of trustworthiness and secret-keeping, adding a layer of discretion.

a go-to person for personal matters

Focuses on the person being a primary choice for discussing personal matters.

a reliable person for emotional support

Stresses the reliability and emotional support provided by the person.

an understanding listener

Highlights the importance of being understood and listened to.

a person to unburden oneself to

Emphasizes the act of relieving oneself of emotional burdens.

a shoulder to cry on

Highlights the supportive and comforting aspect of the relationship.

a sounding board for personal issues

Highlights the person's role in helping to process and understand personal issues.

FAQs

How can I use "someone to confide in" in a sentence?

You can use "someone to confide in" to describe a person you trust with your secrets and personal thoughts. For example, "It's important to have "someone to confide in" during difficult times."

What are some alternatives to "someone to confide in"?

Alternatives include "a "confidant"", "a "trusted friend"", or "a reliable person for emotional support depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "someone to confide in" or "confidant"?

Both are correct, but ""someone to confide in"" is more descriptive, while ""confidant"" is more concise and formal. The best choice depends on the desired tone and context.

What makes a good "someone to confide in"?

A good ""someone to confide in"" is trustworthy, understanding, and able to keep secrets. They should also be a good listener and offer emotional support.