phrase General Slang

friend of Dorothy

· phrase · lgbtq

Mid-20th-century coded phrase for a gay man.

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Definitions

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A discreet code for a gay man, used when being out could get you arrested or worse. Asking 'are you a friend of Dorothy?' was a way to quietly find your people without saying the dangerous part out loud. It traces to Judy Garland — gay icon, and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz — though some point to the writer Dorothy Parker. The term dates back at least to World War II.

“Back then you couldn't just ask — you'd find out if someone was a friend of Dorothy and take it from there.”
by community
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friend of Dorothy In A Sentence

Back then you couldn't just ask — you'd find out if someone was a friend of Dorothy and take it from there.

Origin & Usage

Mid-20th-century coded gay slang, tied to Judy Garland (Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, a gay icon); in use by at least WWII.

Variants FODfriends of Dorothy
Tags #lgbtq#polari#gay#history

People Also Ask

What does "friend of Dorothy" mean?

"Friend of Dorothy" is a mid-20th-century coded phrase used to identify or refer to a gay man.

How do you use "friend of Dorothy" in a sentence?

"Back then, asking if someone was a friend of Dorothy was a discreet way to find community."

Why was "friend of Dorothy" used as code?

It served as a discreet way for gay men to identify one another during a period when being openly gay carried real danger.

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