sparring partner

[spahr-ing pahrt-ner]

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.

sparring partner

/ ˈspɑːrɪŋ /

noun

1. a person who practises with a boxer during training

2. a person with whom one has friendly arguments

Word History and Origins

Origin of sparring partner¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

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

Read more on 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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on BBC

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus defended his old sparring partner Gatland this week and urged people to show the Wales boss the respect he deserves.

Read more on BBC

Can she push her own messaging and policy ideas to the fore when her sparring partner is renowned for quashing substantive discourse in a barrage of insults, lies and red herrings?

Read more on Los Angeles Times