sparring partner

American  

[spahr-ing pahrt-ner] / ˈspɑr ɪŋ ˌpɑrt nər /

noun

1. a boxer who spars with and otherwise serves to train a boxer who is preparing for a bout.

2. a person who serves to sharpen and expand one’s thinking through frequent friendly debate.

   This provocative political writer was the frequent sparring partner of a popular talk show host on TV.

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sparring partner British  

/ ˈspɑːrɪŋ /

noun

1. a person who practises with a boxer during training

2. a person with whom one has friendly arguments

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sparring partner Idioms  

1. An individual with whom one enjoys arguing, as in Jim's my best sparring partner. This expression alludes to boxing, where since about 1900 it has denoted the person one practices or trains with. [Mid-1900s] Also see spar with.

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Etymology

Origin of sparring partner

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The boxer is a sparring partner for Marian, who works out her aggression in the ring.

From Los Angeles Times

Martin tells a sparring partner in his gym to break her ribs to teach her a lesson about where ladies do and do not belong.

From The Wall Street Journal

After embracing on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport, the two sparring partners pledged to work together to rebuild the fire-ravaged communities.

From Los Angeles Times

The move came less than a week before the inauguration of President Trump, who was O’Donnell’s sparring partner and nemesis long before he was first elected.

From Los Angeles Times

"The AI is not so much giving you answers, as giving you a sparring partner," he says.

From BBC