Each week , this program tells about words and expressions in American English . Sometimes we give examples through conversations , stories and even songs -- whatever we can use to help you improve your understanding of American English ! Today we start by asking a question : What sort of friends do you have ? The answer is probably -- all different kinds ! So , we will talk about different expressions that we use for different kinds of friendship . When Randy Newman sings "you've got a friend in me ," he simply means that he is a good friend of yours . But what do you call someone who is not really a friend ? You just , kind of , know them . Acquaintances are people you know , but not well . When using this word , there is often a distance between two people . We often use it when we want to state that the person is not a true friend . It doesn't mean that you have bad feelings about the other person . You are simply acquainted with them . In other words , you know his or her name but that's about it . An acquaintance could one day be a friend if the two of you spend time together and you find that you have things in common . As the adjective suggests , a distant friend is someone you consider a friend , but not a close one . Maybe time or distance has come between you . Or perhaps you know them in a limited way . Again , calling someone a distant friend does not mean you have bad feelings for them . Distant friends could also be mutual friends -- people you know through other people . Mutual friends are friends you have in common , or share , with someone else . When we don't want to use the word "mutual ," Americans often just say a friend of a friend . For example , I could say , "Oh , I don't know her well at all . She's just a friend of a friend ... of a friend ." You can add as many “of a friends ” as you think necessary . Your childhood friends are the people you grew up with . Many people grow apart from their childhood friends . But some people remain close with those people who were among their first friends . Fast friends are people who become friends soon after they first meet . It's as if you were meant to be friends with each other . These days , there are people who are friends through social media . She cannot be trusted ." These friends have power and influence . They can help you when you're in trouble or when you need something . Not all of us are lucky enough to have friends in high places . And that is okay . Sometimes it's more fun to have the opposite . If someone is no longer your friend , you can call him or her an ex-friend . The two of you may have had a “falling out ," meaning a disagreement or fight . And now you are “on the outs ,” meaning no longer talking to each other . There's another kind of friend that I'm sure we've all had at one point : the fair-weather friend . First , what exactly is "fair weather "? When weather conditions are fair , they are really nice . Everything from taking a walk to doing home repairs and playing sports is easier to do in nice weather . There's no driving rain , heavy snow or strong winds to make things difficult . As an adjective describing things , the term fair-weather means something is designed for nice weather use only . For example , in boating , a fair-weather sail is only good for sailing in good weather . And a fair-weather tent is only meant to be used when camping in mild , dry conditions . Well , the same can be said for a fair-weather friend . Such a person is only there during easy , carefree times . But as soon as things get difficult , they are nowhere to be found . We should note that this idiomatic usage describing a type of friend is much more common than the actual meaning . So , this friend will help you if he or she gets something out of the relationship . If not , you are on your own ! Another online guide defines fair-weather as "insincere and temporary ." Americans often use "fair-weather " when talking about sports . When a team is doing well , fair-weather sports fans jump on board . They want to talk about the team morning , noon and night . But at the first sign of a losing streak , a fair-weather fan jumps ship ! So , a fair-weather friend will not see you through the bad times . That is why we have close friends and even best friends . This person will help you through thick and thin . And who doesn't want a friend like that ? Or simply practice with some of these expressions by describing one of your friendships . Why can't we be friends ?