friend of Bill W. en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
An allusion to William Griffith Wilson (1895–1971), known as “Bill W.”, one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Meanings
-
(euphemistic, idiomatic) A recovering alcoholic, especially one who is a member of the organization Alcoholics Anonymous.
He was a friend of Bill W. and had just celebrated Ten Years of Sobriety.
1994 May 31, “Obituary: Middletown BRIAN EDWARD CRAWFORD”, in Providence Journal, USA, page D10:The Sandy Beaches cruise offers Alcoholics Anonymous meetings billed simply as Friends of Bill W.
2003 February 23, Lynne Margolis, “Delbert McClinton rocks the boat for music lovers”, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, retrieved 08 Jul 2011:Most people in recovery know that asking if you are a friend of Bill W. is an anonymous way to identify yourself as a member of AA.
2004, Jack Canfield et al., Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul,, →ISBN, page 49:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| friends of Bill W. | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| friend of Bill | alternative | lexicographic | |
| friend of Bill's | alternative | lexicographic |