extend friendly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extend friendly" is not correct in English as it lacks a noun to complete the expression.
It could be used in a context where you want to convey a friendly gesture, but it needs to be modified for clarity. Example: "We would like to extend a friendly invitation to our upcoming event."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Lithuanian Army was ordered not to resist and to extend friendly greetings; its air force was ordered to remain on the ground.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

After his victory, he reiterated those promises, extending friendly messages to his rivals and calling for unity.

The New York Times

Hewitt succeeded Ivanisevic as Wimbledon champion on this court in 2002, but it certainly felt like a rite of passage as Hewitt and Ivanisevic met at the net for an extended friendly chat after Hewitt's 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 victory put him into the fourth round.

The New York Times - Sports

Former foreign minister Alexander Downer said Abbott should "extend a friendly hand to president Yudhoyono", but not confirm the bugging occurred.

The Guardian

A leading tropical medicine researcher has proposed that the United States extend a friendly hand to Iran — not over nuclear weapons or oil or Israel or Iraq, but over vaccines.

The New York Times - Health

Opponents, who threatened to hold up several presidential nominations unless the provisions were removed, criticized the policy changes, saying they would extend a friendly hand to a government that rules Cuba with an iron fist.

The New York Times

With thousands of Republican and Democratic delegates and lobbyists set to descend on the host cities of this year's national conventions, strip clubs in each city are doing their best to extend a friendly welcome — even as party officials warn against partaking.

The New York Times

That same strategic brilliance was on display in his response to Obama's sanctions: first, the demand for a tit-for-tat response from Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, followed by Putin's magnanimous decision not to expel American diplomats and to further extend a friendly invitation to their children to an annual winter party.

The New Yorker

Just be calm and extend a friendly invitation.

WikiHow

Several already extend gay-friendly family policies and benefits like domestic partner insurance.

The New York Times

For now, though, Mr. Netanyahu is receiving, if not the red-carpet treatment, at least the customary cordialities that the United States extends to friendly world leaders.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey a gesture of goodwill or openness, it's better to use phrases like "extend a friendly hand" or "offer a friendly welcome", which provide grammatical completeness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "extend friendly" in isolation. This phrase requires a noun to clarify what is being extended, such as "extend a friendly invitation" or "extend friendly greetings". Otherwise, it's grammatically incomplete and can sound awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extend friendly" primarily functions as part of a verb phrase aiming to express an action towards someone or something. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase needs a noun to be grammatically correct. Examples include "extend a friendly hand" or "extend friendly greetings".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the intention behind the phrase "extend friendly" is clear, it requires grammatical completion to be considered correct. Ludwig AI's analysis indicates that it lacks a necessary noun to specify what is being extended. For clearer and more effective communication, consider using alternatives like "extend a friendly hand" or "offer a friendly welcome". The register is generally neutral, but the tone can be adjusted based on the accompanying noun. By ensuring grammatical completeness, you can effectively convey warmth and goodwill in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extend a friendly hand

Adds the noun "hand" to "extend" which turns this phrase into an idiom. Suggests offering assistance or support.

offer a friendly greeting

Replaces "extend" with "offer" and adds the noun "greeting" for grammatical correctness; conveys a more immediate action.

show friendly behavior

Uses "show" to indicate outward display of friendliness; focuses on observable actions.

offer a warm welcome

Conveys the idea of making someone feel welcome with warmth and friendliness.

express friendly sentiments

Replaces "extend" with "express" and specifies "sentiments" to clarify the emotional aspect of friendliness.

demonstrate friendliness

Emphasizes the act of proving one's friendly nature through actions and attitude.

foster a friendly relationship

Highlights the nurturing and development of a friendly connection over time.

cultivate friendly relations

Suggests deliberate effort to improve or maintain relationships.

express cordial greetings

Uses more formal terms to describe a polite expression of goodwill.

demonstrate amicable behavior

Highlights actions and conduct that reflect peaceful and cooperative relationships.

FAQs

How can I use the idea of being friendly in a grammatically correct way?

Instead of "extend friendly", use phrases like "extend a friendly hand", "offer a friendly greeting", or "demonstrate friendliness". These options provide grammatical clarity and are more readily understood.

What's a more formal way to express "extend friendly"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "express cordial greetings" or "cultivate friendly relations". These options convey respect and politeness, making them suitable for professional or official contexts.

Is it ever correct to say "extend friendly" without adding more words?

No, "extend friendly" is grammatically incomplete on its own. It always needs a noun to specify what is being extended. For example, you might "extend a friendly hand" or "extend friendly greetings".

What are some common synonyms for "extend friendly" in the context of relationships?

Synonyms include "foster a friendly relationship", which emphasizes development, or "cultivate friendly relations", which suggests careful nurturing of those relationships.