It is interesting to see how the English language evolves over the years. Innovative new terminologies and slang are continuously being spoken and then formally adopted as official English words.
I think it will be a matter of time before “frenemy” would become an official word in the English language. Frenemy would describe someone who pretends to be a friend, but is actually an enemy.
The Urban Dictionary has a good summary of the meanings of frenemy:-
1. frenemy – an enemy disguised as a friend
2. frenemy – the type of friend whose words or actions brings you down
3. frenemy – someone who is both friend and enemy, a relationship that is both mutually beneficial or dependent while being competitive, fraught with risk and mistrust
4. frenemy – someone who you pretend to like, but really both of you know that you hate each other
5. frenemy – a bad friend who cares only about themselves(a toxic friendship).
6. frenemy – a person with whom you may have a lot of fun and/or a lot in common, but who also has a vile and random dark side
7. frenemy – an enemy who acts like a friend
By their behavioural nature, most politicians are frenemies to each other. If you have a friend who is also a politician, the person may be your frenemy, depending on the nature of your friendship with the person.
A frenemy, by definition, would be a hypocrite. A hypocrite is someone who conceals his true character or belief, in friendship, or other aspects of life. Hypocrisy covers more areas.
On the other hand, a hypocrite may not necessarily be a frenemy. A hypocrite may become a real friend. Two hypocrites may enjoy true friendship with each other.
It is a blessing but uncommon if all your friends are indeed your true friends.
It will be common to have a few frenemies in the midst.
It will be problematic to have a lot of frenemies among your circle of friends.
But, it will be a disaster if all you have are frenemies.
I have thought of the Bahasa Melayu equivalent of frenemy – klawan. Klawan would stand for kawan (friend) who is also lawan (enemy).
Based on my observation, as they now stand, Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Alliance) is behaving like Pakatan Klawan (Frenemies’ Alliance). Likewise, some of the coalition members within Barisan Nasional are becoming frenemies too. One is a disaster and the other one is problematic.