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Definition:
b) rivals who pretend to like each other
German translation:
frenemies = Feinde oder Gegner, die so tun, als ob sie sich mögen
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GOOGLE INDEX
frenemies: approximately 100,000 hits
Sample text:
Best FRENEMIES for life: Google and Nokia partner on mobile search application
(www.venturebeat.com)
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The two fashionable FRENEMIES, Naomi Campbell and Victoria Beckham, seemed to kiss and make nice at the Council of Fashion Designer of America awards Monday night.
(Los Angeles Times)
Did you know?
frenemies
noun (slang)
- two rivals, competitors or enemies who pretend to like each other
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WORD ORIGIN
Frenemies (singular, frenemy) combines the words friend and enemy to describe rivals disguised as friends, or business/political partners who are simultaneously competitors. The expression became popular in 2000 when it was used as the title for an episode of a popular U.S. television series about the romantic exploits of a group of female friends.
In personal relationships, the term 'frenemy' is increasingly used to describe two or more people who appear to be friends, but in reality are enemies. This can happen because one or both of the people want to keep a close eye on the actions of the other. As the saying goes, "keep your friends close and your enemies even closer."
Alternatively, two people who seem to be enemies may actually be friends. The apparently hostile relationship becomes just a show in order to deceive or to gain some objective. Such an arrangement may even be used to cover up a secret relationship between the two parties.
Or the reality might be that the two people simply have a love-hate relationship. As another saying goes (select the gender), "Men/Women! You can't live with them. And you can't live without them!"
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SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"Those consultants are polite enough towards each other, but they are actually frenemies."
And now...
Today's Learning Tip (3):
Office English Lotto
Create an English competition with colleagues in your office. Before you click the One-Word-A-Day answer make bets about which definition is correct. 10 points if first choice correct, 5 points if second choice correct. Nominate winner of the week, winner of the month, winner of the year...
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