Meaning & use
foe or friend
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Meaning
phrasefixed phraseliterary
used to talk about whether someone is an enemy or a friend, especially when this is uncertain
Grammar: Often used after 'whether' or in a question: whether he is foe or friend. It can stand alone as a rhetorical question.
Patterns
- whether someone is foe or friend
- is he foe or friend?
- foe or friend?
She could not tell whether the stranger was foe or friend.
In the story, the hero must decide if the creature is foe or friend.
The question 'foe or friend?' echoed in his mind as he approached the gate.
Common combinations
- whether foe or friend
- The king sent a messenger to discover whether the approaching army was foe or friend.
- be foe or friend
- In this uncertain world, you never know if a new neighbor will be foe or friend.
- ask if someone is foe or friend
- The child asked if the big dog was foe or friend.
- friend or foe
- The sentry called out, 'Friend or foe?' as we approached the camp.
Synonyms and how they differ
- friend or foe
- This is the more common order and is used especially as a direct question or challenge; 'foe or friend' is more literary and less common.
- ally or enemy
- This pair is more formal and often used in political or military contexts, while 'foe or friend' is more personal and literary.
Commonly confused: foe or friend or friend or foe?
foe or friend vs friend or foe
This is the usual order, especially in military challenges. 'Foe or friend' is a less common, more literary variation.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'foe or friend' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is used after 'whether' or in a question, not as a direct object. 'He asked whether I was foe or friend' is correct. The other options have wrong grammar or word order.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “foe or friend”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.