для друга семь верст не околица

• ДЛЯ ДРУГА <ДЛЯ МИЛОГО ДРУЖКА> (И) СЕМЬ ВЕРСТ НЕ ОКОЛИЦА{{}}

[saying]

=====

⇒ even a long distance seems short when you are traveling to see a friend or a loved one:

- ≈ distance won't keep loved ones <(two) friends> apart;

- the road (the way) to a friends house is never long;

- love (friendship) laughs at distance.

     ♦ ...Вдруг отворилась дверь его комнаты и предстал Ноздрёв... "Вот говорит пословица: для друга семь вёрст не околица!" - говорил он, снимая картуз (Гоголь 3). ...Thedoor of his room suddenly opened and Nozdrev appeared. "You know, there's truth in the saying that distance won't keep two friends apart," Nozdrev said, taking off his cap (3e).

     ♦ Он [старый князь] подошёл к князю Василью. "Ну, здравствуй, здравствуй; рад видеть". - "Для мила дружка семь вёрст не околица", - заговорил князь Василий, как всегда, быстро, самоуверенно и фамильярно (Толстой 4). Не [the old Prince] went up to Prince Vasily. "Well, how do you do, how do you do, glad to see you." "Friendship laughs at distance," said Prince Vasily in his usual rapid, self-assured, familiar tone (4a).