bro code

English

Alternative forms

• bro-code

Etymology

Popularized by the 2008 book The Bro Code, which listed 150 rules of what "bros" should or should not do.

Noun

bro code (countable and uncountable, plural bro codes)

1. (slang) A supposed code or law stating that men ("bros") should always support each other, especially in situations involving women. [from 2008]
   • 2013 June 8, Trip Gabriel, “Christie, at G.O.P. Event, Finds Many Unburned Bridges”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     Still, not everyone was in a forgiving mood. A major Romney fund-raiser brushed off the standing ovation as simple politeness. Mr. Christie “broke the bro’ code,” said the donor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he did not want to agitate Christie supporters.

   • 2013 October 10, “Your Man hates drunk girls who ruin bars for everyone”, in Northwest Missourian, volume 101, number 7, page A8:

     Come on, since when did we throw the bro code out the window—yes, it applies to girls too, with minor adjustments.

   • 2015 November 5, Rebecca Nelson, National Journal, “The White House Is Using Bears to Make a Point About Sexual Assault”, in The Atlantic‎^[2], archived from the original on 2022-06-29:

     Communities—not just victims—need to be responsible for preventing sexual assault on campus, Johnson told reporters on the call. And it's time to get rid of the bro "code" that keeps guys from reporting it.

   • 2016 April 2, Eric Goldwein, “How can D'Angelo Russell and Nick Young co-exist? That's easy — trade 'Swaggy P.'”, in The Washington Post‎^[3], archived from the original on 2016-04-03:

     Even if Young and Russell hug it out — and an apology was accepted for the bro code violation that Russell admitted to — it'd make sense for the Lakers to try to part ways with Iggy Azalea's fiancee.

   • 2017, E. L. Todd, 400 First Kisses, New York, NY.: Hartwick Publishing, →ISBN, page 65:

     Ace came closer to me and lowered his voice. "It's okay...it's a bro thing." "A bro thing?" I asked. He leaned closer. "Lady wants to have a threesome. She has a cute friend, apparently." That definitely fit into the bro code. I raised my hand to give him a high five.

   • 2021 August 1, Barbara Ellen, “The week in TV: Sexy Beasts; Love Is Blind: After the Altar; Professor T; India's Rape Scandal”, in The Guardian‎^[4], archived from the original on 2022-05-16:

     The first truly gripping moment of the series occurred at a fire-pit recoupling, when Hugo berated Toby for his shabby treatment of Chloe. Please note that, in Love Island terms, Hugo breaking bro-code in this way passes for Arthurian gallantry.

See also

• bros before hoes

References

• Jonathon Green (2024) “bro code n.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang