What do you thin the meaning of a friend in need is a friend indeed saying is?

[Lardlizard]

?

Think

It's a friend who's there when YOU need them without being asked.

That someone who is still your friend when you're in difficulties is a true friend?

I think it’s the opposite.
Someone who wants you to do something for them ( a friend in need )may over egg the strength of your friendship to get what they want .

Agree with shortfeet.

A friend who needs something is of course your friend for now

@Shortfeet

I think it’s the opposite. Someone who wants you to do something for them ( a friend in need )may over egg the strength of your friendship to get what they want .

No, that's not it - the other pp's got it right.

When you are in need, a true friend will help you out.

@Shortfeet

I think it’s the opposite. Someone who wants you to do something for them ( a friend in need )may over egg the strength of your friendship to get what they want .

But if that were true, why would they be ‘a friend indeed’?

The initial posters have it.

It's a friend in your need - otherwise it doesn't make sense!

A friend who is there for you when you are in need is a proper friend. Not just a fair weather one

Agree with the first posters, it's a friend who is there for you when you're in need is a true friend.

It’s “a friend in need is a friend in deed”, not “indeed”. A friend in need will be there in action when you need their deeds (actions).

Yeah I never understood this saying either.

Not much use but interesting to see I'm not the only one!

Found this, it depends if it's
a friend in deed, or a friend indeed
... 'a friend in need is a friend indeed' or 'a friend in need is a friend in deed'. ... If the former, then the phrase means: 'someone who helps you when you are in need is a true friend'. If the latter, it is 'someone who needs your help becomes especially friendly in order to obtain it'.

I prefer the other saying:
a friend in need is a pain in the arse

Yes, a friend who's there when you need them is a true friend

I think it's more: A friend, in need, is a friend indeed. The ones that are there for you during the tough times are the ones to hang on to. If you say it without the commas it sounds the other way around.

Brian Molko knows the answer 😃. But, seriously, AlwaysLatte has it.

It means a friend who will come to your aid when you are in need of support.

It doesn't make sense. The meaning is the opposite of how it first sounds.

'A friend in need' is ambiguous in meaning.

It could mean the friend is in need. Which makes the saying more difficult to explain ( though not impossible as some of the slightly tortuous examples given show) .

The simpler explanation is that the other person is being a friend in your time of need . Then it makes sense . Eg (someone who is ) a friend ( in a time of ) need is a friend indeed

I have a Placebo earworm now. Thanks

[To be] a friend [when I am] in need, is [to be] a friend in deed.

So, real friends follow through with their actions. They don’t just offer verbal platitudes.

To me it means demonstrative support rather than just saying you will help someone.

The 'A friend in need...' bit doesn't mean the friend is in need, it means when you have a need a real friend will actually do something about it rather than ignoring or promising something that isn't carried through.

I've always thought it's a slightly odd saying. It sounds as if the true friend is one who is in need of help, so you must rally round them. Otherwise it would be "A friend, when you're in need, is a friend indeed." Which makes more sense.