ContextPhrase · Ages 11-25 · In use
friend zone
When someone you like only sees you as a friend.
I asked him to the dance and got friendzoned.
For parents and educators
Common and mostly self-mocking. Some people use it as if a friend owes them more, which is a useful thing to gently question.
Where it came from
Popularized by a 1994 episode of the sitcom Friends.
Also heard as
friendzone, friendzoned, friend-zoned
Sources