buddy
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a close friend or a casual acquaintance.
n.a close friend or companion. Frequently used in American English to denote a peer.
Simple“He went out for a few drinks with his old college buddies.”
In context“After years of working in the same department, they became close buddies who spent most weekends hiking together.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a person you are paired with for a specific activity to help or stay safe.
n.a partner assigned to or chosen by an individual for a specific activity, often for mutual safety or assistance.
Simple“The teacher told every student to find a buddy before we entered the museum.”
In context“In scuba diving, you must always stay close to your dive buddy to ensure help is available in case of equipment failure.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to pair someone with a partner for an activity.
v.to assign a partner to an individual for a specific task or period, often used in 'buddy up'.
Simple“We need to buddy up for the hike so that no one gets lost.”
In context“The manager decided to buddy the new recruits with experienced staff members during the first week of orientation.”
UsageOften used as the phrasal verb 'buddy up'.
“The more direct tie-in to American Graffiti is Richard Dreyfuss as Gordie LaChance, who narrates his memories as a novelist and father who’s gotten the perspective he and his buddies lacked as 12-year-olds.”
“My highlighter yellow hammock became a beacon for my buddies to spot me across campus and come over for a quick chat or spontaneous hang.”