Wingman (social)
Encyclopedia
Wingman is a role that a person may take when a friend needs support with approaching potential partners. A wingman is someone who is on the "inside" and is used to help someone with relationships. There seem to be sex differences such that females' friends help them avoid undesirable potential partners, while males' friends help them attract desirable potential mates.
The 'pre-wing' refers to the talking up of one friend to another in order to build an attractive persona before any direct interactions. The pre-wing is then usually followed up by the wingman role; the follow-up support often involving befriending associates of the potential partner.
is often credited with bringing the term into popular usage, although it was not until the 1996 film Swingers
that the term became popularized as a description of social interaction. This is also used to reference a friend who will "take one for the team" and distract the non attractive friends so that his friend can partake in action. Usually this man is rewarded with beer and a shot at any residual friends.
The 'pre-wing' refers to the talking up of one friend to another in order to build an attractive persona before any direct interactions. The pre-wing is then usually followed up by the wingman role; the follow-up support often involving befriending associates of the potential partner.
Origin
The 1986 film Top GunTop Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
is often credited with bringing the term into popular usage, although it was not until the 1996 film Swingers
Swingers (1996 film)
Swingers is a 1996 comedy-drama film about the lives of single, unemployed actors living on the 'eastside' of Hollywood, California during the 1990s swing revival...
that the term became popularized as a description of social interaction. This is also used to reference a friend who will "take one for the team" and distract the non attractive friends so that his friend can partake in action. Usually this man is rewarded with beer and a shot at any residual friends.