the closest of friends? the closest friends?

[dante1024]

Are there any differences between:
1. The closest of friends
2. The closest friends

Do they have different meanings? which one is more commonly used?

thanks

[heidita]

Originally Posted by dante1024

Are there any differences between:
1. The closest of friends He/she is the closest of all your close friends and of all your friends
2. The closest friends They are friends who are very close/dear to you, your closest friends

Do they have different meanings? which one is more commonly used? As they are different they would be used accordingly in the context.

thanks

[BobK]

What heidita says is right; there are two cases, and each form belongs to one case: generally, plural - closest friends; singular - the closest of [someone's] friends. However, there is a usage - perhaps slightly archaic, or at least rather arch/artificial
(one of those A- words! ) that puts 'the closest of' with the plural - "We used to be sworn enemies, but now we are the closest of friends"; the "of" form goes with the singular in this case, because the utterance is dealing with a single (albeit two-way) relationship.

Also, the "of" form can go with the plural in cases like this: "If you want to keep a secret, don't share it with even the closest of your friends; any one of them may blab."

b

[dante1024]

Thank you!