what are friends for
Mutual aid expected
A rhetorical question suggesting that helping someone is simply what friendship entails—no thanks necessary.
Usually follows an expression of gratitude: Thanks for picking me up from the airport. —Hey, what are friends for?
The phrase affirms that the favor was given freely, without expectation of repayment.
- companionshipState of having company
- got your backOffering reliable support
- encouragementSupport spurring continued effort
- being thereState of attending
- communityCollective of connected people
trust · through thick and thin · forgiveness · no questions asked · comfort · shoulder to cry on · reciprocity · lending a hand · connection · secret · validation · empathy · loyalty · ride or die · mutual respect · listening · in your corner · kinship
what are friends foryou owe me
Favor requires future repayment
quid pro quo · tit for tat · pay it back · strings attached · transactional
what are friends fornot my problem
Dismissal of accountability
fend for yourself · every man for himself · sink or swim · tough luck · too bad
friend, friends, friendly, friendliness, unfriendly, friendship, friendless, befriend, befriended