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with friends like these who needs enemies. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
with friends like these who needs enemies, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
with friends like these who needs enemies in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
The Yale Book of Quotations cites American comedian Joey Adams as the originator of this line.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /wɪθ fɹɛn(d)z laɪk ðiːz hu niːdz ˈɛnəmiːz/
Phrase
with friends like these who needs enemies?
- Indicating that one's close associates prove more adversarial than one's opponents.
1979 August 11, John Kyper, “Gay Shame!”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 4, page 5:Three years ago Elaine Noble came out to San Francisco and campaigned against Harvey Milk, at the behest of Foster and David Goodstein. These people now have the gall to take Harvey's name in vain. With "friends" like these, who needs enemies? Hypocrites!
Alternative forms
Translations
indicating that one's close associates prove more adversarial than one's opponents
References
- ^ Shapiro, Fred R. (ed.) (2006) The Yale Book of Quotations, Yale University Press, page 478