What do you think of when you see this phrase “friends with benefits” or the acronym “FWB”? A person might think having friends or a certain friend might benefit them in life. Maybe, having friends with benefits means have rich or well-connected friends?
Nope. When we use this phrase, it has a sexual connotation to it and essentially means two friends, usually good friends who are romantically involved in a casually manner.
There are some discussions on where this phrase originated, but most agree that it came from the sitcom Seinfeld and a really hilarious episode called “The Deal” (1991). Back then, in 1991, if you were to say this phrase you would need about 20 minutes to describe the situation.
Today, when someone talks about having a sexual relationship with a friend, we simply will say: “Got it, so its friends with benefits” and people understand. About 20 years after the Seinfeld episode a movie called “Friends with Benefits” came out starting Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake.
Meaning:
Two friends, usually good friends, who decide to enter a sexual relationship with no strings attached. This is a relationship with no monogamous commitment.
Example:
- We have a great friendship, but we recently took it to another level and now are friends with benefits.
- Before we got married, we were friends and then became friends with benefits.
Dialog:
Jimmy: Hey Shirley, what’s up?
Shirley: Hey Jimmy! Wow you look great!
Jimmy: Thanks. I have been working out and watching what I eat. Your looking hot yourself.
Shirley: Jimmy! You’re making a pass at a friend?
Jimmy: Ha Ha. Well I am just saying, you are looking good.
Shirley: You know if we weren’t friends I might be flirting back.
Jimmy: Well, you know we could be friends with benefits.
Shirley: Hmmm. That sounds interesting, tell me more.
Other words you can create: noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc (ex: mug – mugger)
Flirting
Fuck
Sex
Have sex
Have relations
Fornicate
Have coitus
Copulate
Engage in intercourse
Get lucky
Get it on
Shag
Get some
Sex (someone) up
Do the nasty or get nasty
Collocations:
They started out as friends but they become later became friends with benefits.
They eventually became friends with benefits.
Related phrasal verbs:
Hit on
We use this phrasal verb to suggest that someone is making sexual advances show romantic interest in someone.
- I saw you hitting on her, you have girlfriend who is my sister!
Hook up
Hook up is when two people get together to have sex, usually for one night and in many cases the first time they have met.
- I was at a restaurant last night and I hooked up with the waitress.
Make out
In most cases this means to kiss and do non sexual intercourse activities.
- I met this guy at a party and we made out in the bathroom.
Pick up
We us this phrasal verb to describe a situation where we meet someone we don’t know and we have a romantic experience, possibly involving sex.
- I picked up this beautiful girl last night and she slept over.
Sleep around
This is a phrase that we use to describe someone who has many different sexual partners.
- If you are looking for a serious relationship, stay away from Ted as he sleeps around a lot!
Mess around
This phrase has a reference to two people have sexual relations which might not be considered good judgment. Often times it is used to reference someone have sexual relations with someone they shouldn’t.
- I don’t think Mary is aware her boyfriend is messing around with her best friend.
Related idioms:
Bed buddies
This idiom can have a sexual and non-sexual meaning. Sometimes people can be bed buddies because they have to share a bed and there is no sexual contact. In the context of friends with benefits this phrase is used to describe a situation where someone and a friend or ex-partner have a sexual relationship but are not dating.
- Hey I am kind of cold and lonely, do you want to be my bed buddy and let’s see what happens.
Fuck friends
This is a phrase to describe a situation where tow people’s relationship is exclusively about have sex and there are no feelings for each other.
- We are not really friends, just fuck friends as I really don’t like him as a person.
Booty call
This is in reference to when someone calls a friend or some random person late at night for the specific reason to have sex.
- I was lonely last night, so I went to Paul’s place for a booty call.
Ex with benefits
Is in reference to two people who use to date who are not anymore, but continue to have a sexual relationship.
- Jim and I are not dating anymore, but we do hook up sometimes. We are kind of like Ex’s with benefits.
Synonyms (other ways to say):
More than friends
Special friends
Occasional boyfriend/girlfriend
Bang buddy
Cuddle buddy
It’s complicated
Friendsex
Quantum dating
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