Cool MateClose as any man would vs Familiar
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Close as any man would
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Familiar
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
Most common: Familiar
| Close as any man would | Familiar | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kləʊz əz ˈɛni mæn wʊd//🇺🇸 //kloʊz əz ˈɛni mæn wʊd// | 🇬🇧 /["/fəˈmɪliə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fəˈmɪliər/"]/ |
| Meaning | To be very close or intimate like a good friend. | Well-known or recognized. |
| Example | They are close as any man would, sharing their secrets with one another. | My grandmother's cooking is very familiar to me because I grew up eating her dishes. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | close friends, as close as friends, close relationship, close as family, close bond | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, to, be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very |
| Antonyms | - | unfamiliar, unknown |
| Common mistakes | Using in formal writing where a more specific phrase is needed., Confusing the phrase with 'close to' which has different implications., Mispronouncing 'would' as it can change the meaning. | Confusing 'familiar' with 'family' due to similar spelling., Using 'familiar' without the appropriate preposition (to) after it., Using 'familiarly' in the wrong context. |
| Usage notes | This phrase is used to express deep closeness or familiarity between individuals. It's appropriate in informal conversations but can be used in more serious contexts. It usually implies trust and openness. | Use 'familiar' in both formal and informal contexts. It's appropriate when talking about something you know well. Avoid using it for professional situations where you need to exhibit more formality. |
Frequently asked questions: Close as any man would vs Familiar
What's the difference between Close as any man would and Familiar?
Close as any man would: To be very close or intimate like a good friend. Familiar: Well-known or recognized.
Which is more common: Close as any man would and Familiar?
Familiar is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Close as any man would: They are close as any man would, sharing their secrets with one another. Familiar: My grandmother's cooking is very familiar to me because I grew up eating her dishes.
Can I use Close as any man would and Familiar interchangeably?
Not always. Close as any man would and Familiar are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.