no friend of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "no friend of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone does not support or is not in favor of a particular person, idea, or action. Example: "He is no friend of the current administration, often criticizing their policies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One Kentucky man was no friend of "Fox & Friends". .

Huffington Post

And no friend of ours.

The New Yorker

"But she's no friend of mine".

The New Yorker

Justice White was no friend of criminals.

The New York Times

Spielberg is no friend of truth.

The Guardian

No friend of the generals, he.

The New York Times

"Traffic" is no friend of the government.

The New York Times

Iran is no friend of America.

The New York Times

MICHAEL MCKEE is no friend of landlords.

The New York Times

Spielberg is no friend of Israel.

The Guardian

Rod Blagojevich, the former governor, is no friend of Daley's.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "no friend of" to subtly indicate a lack of support or affinity, particularly when a direct declaration of opposition might be too strong. It's useful for implying disagreement without being overtly confrontational.

Common error

Avoid using "no friend of" when you mean someone is actively hostile. This phrase implies a lack of support or affinity, not necessarily active antagonism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "no friend of" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used as a predicate adjective. It indicates a lack of support, affinity, or alignment with a person, group, or idea. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "no friend of" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to express a lack of support or affinity. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it implies disagreement, it's less forceful than stating outright hostility. For alternative expressions, consider "not an ally of" or "not a supporter of", depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not an ally of

Emphasizes a lack of alliance or partnership, suggesting a more formal relationship.

not in favor of

A polite way to express disagreement or disapproval.

not a supporter of

Focuses on a lack of endorsement or advocacy for a particular cause or person.

not sympathetic to

Indicates a lack of understanding or compassion for someone or something.

no advocate for

Emphasizes the absence of active support or promotion.

opposed to

Highlights direct opposition, suggesting active resistance.

at odds with

Implies disagreement or conflict, often in a general sense.

against

A more direct and simple way of expressing opposition.

hostile to

Suggests a more antagonistic or unfriendly relationship.

antagonistic toward

Similar to 'hostile to', but perhaps more actively adversarial.

FAQs

How can I use "no friend of" in a sentence?

The phrase "no friend of" is used to indicate a lack of support or affinity towards someone or something. For instance, "He is "no friend of" the current administration" suggests he does not support it.

What are some alternatives to saying "no friend of"?

You can use alternatives like "not an ally of", "not a supporter of", or "opposed to" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "no friends of" instead of "no friend of"?

While "no friend of" refers to a single entity or concept, "no friends of" indicates a lack of multiple friendships or support groups. The correct choice depends on the context.

What's the difference between "no friend of" and "no enemy of"?

"No friend of" indicates a lack of support, while "no enemy of" suggests neutrality or absence of hostility. They have opposite connotations.