good friend-material

[Selviya87]

Hi, all
I find this idiom: "good friend-material" and curious to know the meaning. I grab it from a novel I'm reading.

Thanks indeed for your help

Selviya87

[JMurray]

"good friend-material"

Selviya87.
Somebody who is "good friend-material" has the kind of qualities and personality that would make them a good person to have as a friend.

[Selviya87]

Wow, thanks JMurray :) it really helps

[Tripp]

The punctuation in this phrase needs to be corrected. The proper form is:
"good-friend material." What kind of material is she? The "good-friend" kind.
In this case, the hyphenated phrase "good-friend" is being used collectively as an adjective that is modifying the noun "material."

[catbert]

I find this idiom: "good friend-material" and curious to know the meaning. I grab it from a novel I'm reading.

Are you sure it was "good friend-material" and not "girlfriend material"?

Honestly, "good friend-material" doesn't make any sense.
Even with the punctuation correction provided above by Tripp, I can't say I ever heard anyone say this.

[JMurray]

The punctuation in this phrase needs to be corrected. The proper form is:
"good-friend material." What kind of material is she? The "good-friend" kind.
In this case, the hyphenated phrase "good-friend" is being used collectively as an adjective that is modifying the noun "material."

Another way of looking at this. The original usage may be something like: "Do you think that the neighbour's son might make good friend-material for our Johnny?".

.. "friend-material" = the requirements and potential to be a friend, therefore "good friend-material" suggests a better than average potential. Whether they can truly become "good friends" only time can tell.

Further examples:
"Harry was playing on the wing last season but I think his strong tackling makes him good fullback-material, it might be worth trying him there".
"She's a clever writer and well organised, which could make her good editor-material when the current editor leaves".


not a teacher