Frenemy

Feifei Hello, welcome to The English We Speak, I’m Feifei…

Neil …and hello, I’m Neil. So Feifei, did you enjoy Jane’s leaving party last night?

Feifei Oh yeah, it was great. Free food and free drink…

Neil But that was the only reason was it? Weren’t you sad to see her leave? You’ve worked with her for many years.

Feifei Oh… right… yes. Very sad. Such a shame to see her go. We were such good friends.

Neil Friends! Really? Didn’t she tell the boss when you took that extra-long lunch break?

Feifei Oh yeah - but generally, we were best buddies.

Neil Hmm, and didn’t you once punch her when she tried to chat up your boyfriend at the Christmas party?

Feifei OK, OK, I didn’t like her that much.

Neil Well it sounds like you were really her ‘frenemy’ - someone who pretends to be her friend but is really her enemy. It’s a combination of two words - friend and enemy. Get it?

Feifei Yes, a fren-emy! Hmm, I’ve never had one of those before.

Neil Really? Well let’s hear this word in action…

Examples She seems so false, I wouldn’t trust her - she’s just a frenemy.

Tania’s been my frenemy for years - I’d go for a quick drink with her but that’s it!

Tom’s just my frenemy - I pretend to like him but really I can’t stand him!

Feifei If you pretend to be friends with someone but in reality you don’t like each other then they are your ‘frenemy’. I wonder if I was her frenemy?

Neil I’m afraid you were. She told me she was only friends with you so she could share your biscuits - and she didn’t really like you. She told me at the party last night.

Feifei Thank goodness we’re real friends Neil - at least we can be honest with each other.

Neil Well actually, I don’t like you much either. I only pretend to be your friend when I’m presenting this programme!

Feifei Oh no! Now I’ve got two frenemies!

Neil Oh don’t cry Feifei. I was only joking.