Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

thick as thieves

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.74 in modern English

Syllables
thick- as thieves
IPA
29
Scrabble Score
14
Letters
2
Syllables
9
Unique Chars

Meaning

Example Sentences

Etymology

From thick (“friendly, intimate”), first attested in 1827 as "thick as two thieves".

Inflected Forms

thick as two thieves (alternative) close as thieves (alternative)

Questions

What does thick as thieves mean?
Intimate, close-knit, tight.
Where does thick as thieves come from?
From thick (“friendly, intimate”), first attested in 1827 as "thick as two thieves".

How to pronounce thick as thieves

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “thick as thieves”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “thick as thieves”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “thick as thieves” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.