# friend of Bill W.

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/friend-of-bill-w
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A recovering alcoholic, especially one who is a member of the organization Alcoholics Anonymous.

## Examples

- He mentioned he is a friend of Bill W. at the meeting.
- When the host offered him a drink, he politely explained that he is a friend of Bill W.
- The speaker shared his journey toward sobriety, identifying himself as a friend of Bill W. to encourage others in the room.

## Origin

An allusion to William Griffith Wilson (1895–1971), known as “Bill W.”, one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.