with friends like these, who needs enemies

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English

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Etymology

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The Yale Book of Quotations cites American comedian Joey Adams as the originator of this line.[1]

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /wɪθ fɹɛn(d)z laɪk ðiːz hu niːdz ˈɛnəmiːz/

Phrase

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with friends like these, who needs enemies?

  1. Indicating that one's close associates prove more adversarial than one's opponents.
    • 1979 August 11, John Kyper, “Gay Shame!”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 4, page 5:
      Three years ago Elaine Noble came out to San Francisco and campaigned against Harvey Milk, at the behest of Foster and David Goodstein. These people now have the gall to take Harvey's name in vain. With "friends" like these, who needs enemies? Hypocrites!

Alternative forms

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Translations

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References

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  1. ^ Shapiro, Fred R. (ed.) (2006) The Yale Book of Quotations[1], Yale University Press, page 478