buddy system

noun

1. (in swimming and scuba diving) the practice of pairing swimmers, each being responsible for the other's safety.

2. any arrangement whereby two or more persons, teams, etc., watch out for each other, as with mountain climbers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of buddy system¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

This viewer was concerned about the way “Boots” barks “attention!”—with a montage of Cam’s bullying at school and his rash decision to enlist with the straight Ray via the Marine Corps “buddy system.”

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If you dare venture out, it’s a good idea to use the buddy system and be versed in wilderness first aid.

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Zabow suggested using a buddy system in which friends monitor one another for symptoms of heat exhaustion, including heavy sweating, dizziness, and nausea, and leave early to get help if needed.

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Critically, she discovered that another polymerase, called polymerase delta, uses a buddy system with polymerase theta to assist it in this repair pathway.

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“Now you don’t even have the good old buddy system of two co-workers keeping an eye out for each other.”

Read more on Seattle Times