a pal of ours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a pal of ours" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a friend or acquaintance who is part of a group that includes the speaker and others. Example: "We invited a pal of ours to the party, and we hope he can make it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Let's just put it this way…a friend of a friend of a buddy of a pal of ours is a soldier in Iraq.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Geeks often travel in packs, so glean some information off a pal of your geek recipient.

WikiHow

McCain today released a shockingly inflammatory Obama-is-a-pal-of-terrorist-Bill-Ayers ad.

Huffington Post

Blue is a coooool pal of ours, and then the two offshoots are basically just boys with accents that I want to smooch.

Vice

The sheriff's a pal of theirs.

The New Yorker

She is a pal of nearly every Democrat who counts.

The Economist

A pal of his had used the phrase, on call.

The New Yorker

Suzie was a pal of a pal of Tanya's and another athletic type, ex-Great Britain junior triple jump champion.

The Guardian - Music

Thompson, Ms. Minnelli's godmother and a pal of Judy Garland's, died in 1998.

The New York Times

Here he is played by Dominic Fumusa, best known, perhaps, as a pal of the Sopranos.

The New York Times

And Messier is a pal of Richter, who does not appear to be a Sather favorite.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a pal of ours" to convey a sense of camaraderie and shared connection within a group. It is more informal than "a friend of ours" but still widely understood.

Common error

Avoid using "a pal of ours" in formal writing or professional settings. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "a friend of ours" or "an associate of ours" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a pal of ours" functions as a noun phrase, specifically as a determiner + noun + prepositional phrase. It identifies a person who is a friend of the speaker and others, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a pal of ours" is a noun phrase used to refer to a friend shared within a group. As per Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and functions to establish a sense of camaraderie. The phrase tends to be more informal and is commonly found in news and media contexts. Alternative phrases like "a friend of ours" or "a buddy of ours" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. While grammatically sound, it's best to avoid using "a pal of ours" in formal or professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a friend of ours

More common and slightly more formal alternative.

one of our friends

More descriptive and less concise.

a buddy of ours

More informal and conveys a closer relationship.

a mate of ours

Informal, common in British English.

an acquaintance of ours

Indicates a less close relationship, more of a casual friend.

someone we know

General and less specific about the relationship.

a colleague of ours

Specifies the relationship as a work-related connection.

a comrade of ours

Suggests a shared purpose or activity, often used in more formal or historical contexts.

a fellow member

Indicates someone within the same group or organization.

a close associate of ours

More formal and indicates a professional or significant connection.

FAQs

What does "a pal of ours" mean?

The phrase "a pal of ours" means a friend or acquaintance who is also part of a group that includes the speaker. It is a slightly informal way of referring to someone you and others know.

Is "a pal of ours" the same as "a friend of ours"?

While similar, "a pal of ours" is generally considered more informal than "a friend of ours". The choice depends on the context and the desired level of formality.

When should I use "a pal of ours" instead of "a friend of mine"?

"A pal of ours" implies the friend is shared within a group, while "a friend of mine" simply refers to a personal friend. Use "a pal of ours" when you want to emphasize the shared connection with others. See also: "a friend of mine".

Are there any synonyms for "a pal of ours" that are more formal?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use "an associate of ours", "a colleague of ours", or even "an acquaintance of ours" if you wish to convey a more formal or distant relationship.