Bro code 101: Tips, rules about girlfriends, quotes

Whenever boys and men hang out, and a lady or group of ladies are present while having certain conversations, the phrase “keep the bro code” pops out from nowhere. The boys or men present insist that the bro code must be abided by, no matter whose ox is gored.

Yes, they virtually love all the women in their lives and will move mountains for them, but when it comes to their boys’ camaraderie, men value their closeness and do not attempt to spill secrets to their better half or make any decision that will hurt their fellow male friends. This bromance can be so solid that, at times, men operate and imbibe the esprit de corps principle operated in the military.

Through this piece, our readers will learn what the bro code is, its rules, and how it relates to the women in the lives of men.

Table of Content hide 1What is bro code? 2Bro code 101 2.1Have your bro’s back, no matter what 2.2Bros before h*es 2.3Be a great wingman for your bro 2.4Bros are not to date the sister, mother, or girlfriend of fellow bros 2.5Don’t date your bro’s ex, even with his permission 2.6A bro shall not cock block another bro 2.7Always tell your bro if his girl cheats on him 2.8Never let a bro (or yourself) sacrifice dignity for a woman 2.9If a bro’s wife/girlfriend asks you where he is, you have no idea about his whereabouts 2.10A bro must always remain loyal 2.11Never leave a bro hangin’ 2.12Girl bros are off-limits 2.13Never allow a bro to date an ugly girl 2.14Bros must be honest with each other 3Other bro codes 4Bro code rules concerning girlfriends

What is bro code?

The bro code is a guideline of friendship etiquette to be followed by men. It is a set of unwritten and unspoken rules that regulate any group of male friends to keep their bonds firm and stable. It can be aptly described as friendship etiquette that governs men in a social circle.

The Oxford Dictionary has acknowledged that Barney Stinson, a fictional character from How I Met Your Mother, a US television show from 2005 to 2014, popularised the term. Regardless of the recency of its definition, the term’s practice has been going on for ages in various parts of the world.

The bro code is taken seriously by all the guys in their clique because a breach of any of the laws is deemed a betrayal. Instances abound online about some male folks being kicked out of their predominately male friendship groups or social circles because they violated the code.

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Bro code 101

As stated earlier, the bro code is not codified in a single document. But despite that, the rules that embody the code are numerous. Irrespective of cultural variations, the codes remain the same. They are:

Have your bro’s back, no matter what

It is the most important of all the codes. This simply means that any guy must support his fellow guy, irrespective of the circumstances involved. The guys must always have their fellow guy’s back, no matter if women are involved in any matter.

Bros before h*es

Some persons insist that this is the founding principle of the bro code. Regarded as the “golden rule” of male friendship, this code states that men should not abandon their male friends for women. The priorities of fellow brothers take precedence over that of women.

Be a great wingman for your bro

If your male friend needs backup or support, the fellow “brother” must step up to the plate and deliver. This is mostly related to when a guy is “toasting” a lady. If a guy sends his fellow male friend to talk to or hook up a lady for him, then it is the responsibility of the supporting friend to secure the lady for his friend, not snatching her away from him.

Bros are not to date the sister, mother, or girlfriend of fellow bros

Once a guy becomes a friend to a fellow guy, the friend’s mother, sister(s), and girlfriend(s) are automatically off-limit in terms of a relationship. A doting friend is not expected to hit on or have any sexual relations with the women in the life of his fellow guy. Stepmoms and stepsisters may, however, be an exception.

A breach of this code is seen as unforgivable by some persons.

Don’t date your bro’s ex, even with his permission

This is visibly clear as the light of day. Even if the latter gives the green light, a good friend is not permitted to ask or even hit on his comrade’s former partner. A contravention of this is interpreted as the friend not having respect for his fellow guy.

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A bro shall not cock block another bro

If two guys are interested in a girl, the guy who liked the girl first will then be allowed to approach the girl and explore whatever he hopes to achieve. The other guy(s) is expected to serve as a wingman to his fellow bro.

Always tell your bro if his girl cheats on him

It is the responsibility of a friend to inform his bro if he gets a hint or confirms that the bro has a cheating spouse. Yes, relaying such information may not be easy, especially if the guy has fallen head over heels for the girl, but saving him from a potentially disastrous situation must be done. However, this should be done sensitively.

Never let a bro (or yourself) sacrifice dignity for a woman

A bro must not allow his fellow brother to lose his dignity over a woman. While a guy can decide to move mountains and do anything for his woman, he should not get involved in any activity that would let him lose his honour, respect, or self-esteem. And this falls on the bro’s friend or group of friends to ensure that such development does not happen.

If a bro’s wife/girlfriend asks you where he is, you have no idea about his whereabouts

Even if a guy knows your friend’s whereabouts, it is always best not to disclose it to his wife or girlfriend. After all, the friend trusts his fellow brother, which is why he confided his location to him. The response by the friend to the woman(en) calling is “I have no clue”.

A bro must always remain loyal

This is another important code that is expected to be respected by all male friends. Reiterating all that has been said before, the bro code is all about honesty and loyalty among men. Therefore, no matter the gravity of the situation, a bro must be a true-blue, dependable, reliable, and trusted comrade to his fellow male folks. Like the last aforementioned point, a loyal friend means no letting off of secrets and no betrayal.

Never leave a bro hangin’

This means that no matter how much you want to get laid, there is no way you “flenjoy” alone for that duration without leaving your fellow “brother” unattended to. This means that the friend busy “in the other room” would have to provide entertainment or something else to keep his friend engaged while he is handling deep business.

Girl bros are off-limits

A girl can be admitted to the bro gang if she displays bro-like qualities. However, the guys are barred from revealing the bro code to her until she proves worthy of receiving such information.

Also, guys must not make advances or hit on girls in the bro gang as she is deemed as one of the bros.

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Never allow a bro to date an ugly girl

Male friends are expected to be honest with each other, even if such development may cause friction. A bro must be able to tell his fellow friend about his faults, especially if he is pursuing a girl not deemed aesthetically pleasing. A bro has to help his guy get a more beautiful babe as his beau. However, a guy should not tell his male friend that he is dating an ugly friend whenever they are not on speaking terms, as that only breeds claims of jealously.

Bros must be honest with each other

This is closely related to the last point. Honesty is the bedrock of human relationships and the bro code, especially. For example, If a bro asks his male friend for an opinion on his new date, the friend is to be lucid and honest instead of sitting on the fence and dilly-dally with his response.

Other bro codes

A bro must be a man and honour his family

A Bro Shall Always Protect His Bros

Don’t let a bro take up a job he is going to hate

A bro shall never make a bro feel ashamed.

A bro must fully respect four things about his friend – his house, his parents, his girlfriend, and, most important of all, his car.

A bro shall always be forgiven.

Work hard to make your bro look like a superhero in front of others.

If a bro finds another bro’s girlfriend irritating, he must keep quiet until they break up.

If your bro is broke, the bro code demands you to treat him.

Bros are to help other bros who are moving houses.

If a bro volunteers to do a food or alcohol run, he is entitled to claim the leftover change.

Always watch out for a drunk bro.

A bro does not let a bro marry if he is younger than 30 years.

A bro shall never allow another bro to text a girl when drunk.

A bro must never reveal how many women another bro has slept with

If a bro tells another bro a secret, he is obliged to take that secret to the grave.

A bro does not sulk and give another bro the silent treatment.

In the absence of your bro, you are his girlfriend’s protector.

If two bros know the same story, the bro who is lesser-known among the party or group shall tell it.

Bros always honour a bet.

Bros pay for their dates.

A Bro is never offended if another Bro fails to return a phone call, text, or email in a timely fashion

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Bro code rules concerning girlfriends

A lot has already been said in this piece about the bro code and its link with boys’ girlfriends. This is a good time to reiterate some of the points mentioned concerning this matter.