friend zone

¹ American  

[frend zohn] / ˈfrɛnd ˈzoʊn /

noun

Slang.

1. a friendship in which one person, typically male, is romantically or sexually attracted to the other, but the attraction is not mutual.

   He's obviously in love with her but she keeps him in the friend zone.

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friend-zone ² American  

[frend-zohn] / ˈfrɛndˌzoʊn /

verb (used with object)

friend-zoned, friend-zoning

1. Slang.  to put (someone) in the friend zone.

   He wonders why he's always getting friend-zoned by women he likes.

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Usage

What does friend-zone mean? The friend-zone is a figure of speech for what happens when one person wants to take things to the next level romantically but the other person just wants to be friends.

Etymology

Origin of friend zone¹

First recorded in 1990–95

Origin of friend-zone²

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

Time-travelling to Swift's high school days in Tennessee, it reminisces about a boy she confined to the friend zone while yearning for a single kiss.

From BBC

If there’s a breakout figure here, though, it may be Terrance, KeiLyn Durrel Jones’ sweet baggage handler who is Mel’s top advocate and a real estate holder in the Friend Zone.

From Salon

Does the crush reciprocate the narrator's feelings — or put them in the friend zone?

From Salon

Kendrick said in this film their characters have moved out of “the friend zone.”

From Seattle Times

Right now, our friendship is parked in “the friend zone” because I don’t know what to do from here.

From Washington Post