asking for a friend

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Phrase

asking for a friend

1. (idiomatic, humorous) Indicates that a question is embarrassing by pretending to be posing the question on behalf of another person.
   • 2015, Belle Payton, Even the Score, page 70:

     “Oh, please, like we'd ever believe that whole 'I'm asking for a friend' routine.”

   • 2016 October 9, “Celebrities React to Presidential Town Hall Debate 2016”, in Just Jared:

     How many more of these #debates do we have to suffer through? Asking for a friend. — Eva Amurri Martino (@TheHappilyEva)

   • 2018, "Lakers survive Ball's gaffe to beat Thunder in OT". — LeBron James (@KingJames)

     "So what really is "in the shooting motion" rule?!?!?" James wrote on Twitter. "Asking for a friend @OfficialNBARefs."

Translations

phrase to indicate embarrassing question pretending it to be on behalf on another person

• Finnish: kaverin puolesta kyselen