# Google is your friend

Google is your friend: you could find that by Googling it.

Canonical URL: https://slanglane.com/terms/google-is-your-friend
Release: daily-2026-11-11
Checked: 2026-11-10T11:16:37.769Z
Register: informal
Language: general
Review: automated-evidence-review

## Meaning

For “Google is your friend”, this entry covers the following meaning: you could find that by Googling it.

## Original examples

> During the meeting, I shrugged and replied, 'Google is your friend,' after he asked for the statistics we hadn't prepared.

In plain English: During the meeting, I shrugged and replied, 'you could find that by Googling it,' after he asked for the statistics we hadn't prepared.

Context: An original, invented situation. Compare the expression with the plain-English substitution below it; the people and events are illustrative.

> She rolled her eyes when I suggested, 'Google is your friend,' because she preferred a quick answer from a colleague.

In plain English: She rolled her eyes when I suggested, 'you could find that by Googling it,' because she preferred a quick answer from a colleague.

Context: An original, invented situation. Compare the expression with the plain-English substitution below it; the people and events are illustrative.

## When it fits

Choose this wording when the meaning above fits what you intend to say. Give the reader enough surrounding context to follow the example; if clarity matters more than the shorthand, use the plain-English wording instead.

## Mind the context

Avoid assuming that a label reveals somebody’s motives or private behavior. If you are unsure how your words will be understood, explain the situation directly and ask a clarifying question rather than relying on the expression alone.

## Important differences

### Other readings

Check the whole sentence before choosing a reading. This entry explains one checked sense; when that reading does not fit, ask the writer what they meant instead of forcing the definition onto the conversation.

## Backstory

This automated entry does not establish a first coinage. Consult the linked references for documented history.

## Questions

### How can I check whether this meaning of “Google is your friend” fits?

Substitute the plain-English meaning into the entire sentence, as in the examples. Keep the surrounding situation in view. If the result does not make sense, ask for clarification rather than assuming this is the intended reading.

### How can I make my own message clearer?

Add the missing context or choose a direct description of what you mean. Read the whole message back before sending it, especially if another person could take the label differently.

## Sources

- [Google is your friend — English entry, revision 89435953](https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Google%20is%20your%20friend&oldid=89435953) — Wiktionary contributors. Checked 2026-11-10T11:16:37.769Z. Supports: summary; meaning; partOfSpeech.

Source texts retain their original licenses. Definitions and factual notes are research-informed; examples and usage advice are original SlangLane writing.