a close friend of yours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a close friend of yours" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who has a strong friendship with the person you are addressing. Example: "I heard you were hanging out with Sarah; she's a close friend of yours, right?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

A close friend of yours took up with your ex, then abandoned you.

The New York Times - Style

Helping him this last week really showed me why he was such a close friend of yours.

The New York Times

Was a close friend of yours killed in the war? group 8: threat, violence, injury to loved ones Was a loved one in the army during the war?

BMC Psychiatry

You have a lot to talk about, especially if they're a close friend of yours.

WikiHow

If they are a close friend of yours you should know them pretty well.

WikiHow

If they are a close friend of yours, s/he will delete it for you.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

At the prayer breakfast, the president called Mr. DuBois a "close friend of mine and yours" who "has been at my side — in work and in prayer — for years now".

The New York Times

I want to say a quick word about a close friend of mine and yours, Joshua Dubois.

Huffington Post

However (and this is a big however), that someone else either needs to be someone that they know (and wasn't invited because of headcount reasons not because they hate them reasons) or someone they don't know but is a best and close friend of yours and isn't an offensive wedding guest.

Huffington Post

They're not happy about it, they're mad you haven't exiled this close friend of yours months before like you insisted on keeping an insane dog in the house.

Vice

Another close friend of yours is Arnold Klein, Jackson's longtime dermatologist.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a close friend of yours", consider the context and audience. Using "dear friend" might be more appropriate in formal settings, while "buddy" or "pal" suits informal conversations.

Common error

Avoid using "a close friend of yours" when referring to a casual acquaintance. Overstating the closeness of a relationship can sound insincere or awkward. Choose a more general term like "friend" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a close friend of yours" functions as a noun phrase, specifically as an appositive or a descriptive phrase modifying a noun. It is typically used to identify or describe someone well-known by the person being addressed. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33.33%

Wiki

50%

Science

16.67%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a close friend of yours" is a grammatically sound and commonly used way to refer to someone with whom the person addressed has a strong, meaningful friendship. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for a variety of contexts, although primarily observed in news, media, and informal writing such as Wikis. When considering alternative phrases, it's important to think about the specific nuance you want to convey, whether it's the level of intimacy (e.g., "a dear friend of yours"), the duration of the friendship (e.g., "a longtime friend of yours"), or the level of formality (e.g., "a pal of yours" for informal settings). As with any phrase, be mindful of the context and audience to ensure appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one of your closest friends

Emphasizes the degree of closeness in the friendship.

a dear friend of yours

Replaces "close" with "dear", suggesting affection and fondness.

a good friend of yours

A more general term, less specific than "close".

someone you are good friends with

Rephrases the sentence structure to emphasize the reciprocal relationship.

an intimate friend of yours

Implies a deeper level of emotional connection.

a trusted friend of yours

Highlights the aspect of trust in the friendship.

a special friend of yours

Indicates that the friend holds a unique or important place.

a longtime friend of yours

Highlights the duration of the friendship.

a buddy of yours

More informal and casual.

a pal of yours

Very informal, suggesting camaraderie.

FAQs

How can I use "a close friend of yours" in a sentence?

You can use "a close friend of yours" to refer to someone with whom the person you're speaking to shares a deep and meaningful friendship. For example: "I heard that Mary, "a close friend of yours", got a promotion."

What can I say instead of "a close friend of yours"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "a dear friend of yours", "one of your closest friends", or "a good friend of yours".

Is it correct to say "a close friend to you" instead of "a close friend of yours"?

While "a close friend to you" isn't grammatically incorrect, it's not as commonly used or idiomatic as ""a close friend of yours"". The latter is the preferred phrasing.

What's the difference between "a friend of yours" and "a close friend of yours"?

"A friend of yours" is a general term for someone you know and are friendly with. "A close friend of yours" implies a deeper connection, trust, and intimacy in the friendship.