friend zone

plural friend zones · alternative friendzone · alternative friend-zone

1. slangThe situation in which one is viewed by a potential partner as a platonic friend, which complicates the initiation of a romantic relationship.

   Once in a while, you will find yourself stuck in the friend zone. Don't panic, you are not alone.

   2005, Terry Dennis, The Manual

   2 more examples

   Every platonic friend I got is some woman I was tryin' to fuck, I made a wrong turn somewhere, and ended up in the friend zone.

   1996, Chris Rock: Bring the Pain, Chris Rock (actor)

   “Stuck in the Friend Zone,” said Sasha wisely, although I don't think she's dipped a toe in the Friend Zone in her life.

   2007, Helen Salter, Does Snogging Count as Exercise?

present singular third person friend zones · participle present friend zoning · participle past friend zoned · past friend zoned · alternative friendzone · alternative friend-zone

1. slangtransitiveTo classify (someone) as a friend, without any possibility of a romantic relationship.

   The bloke tries to get her attention back, but I've friendzoned him. Poor guy. I do feel bad for the ones who have to try so hard.

   2015, Wendy Higgins, chapter 1, in Sweet Temptation, HarperCollins, →ISBN

   1 more example

   While being friendzoned is not a problem, what can be a problem is if it's not clear to both people that ONLY friendship and nothing more is on offer.

   2019, Ira Trivedi, Sachin Bhatia, chapter 1, in The Desi Guide to Dating, Harper Collins, →ISBN