in the friend zone

slang Considered merely a friend by someone rather than as a potential romantic interest. If Bella cries to you about all of her bad dates but never asks you out, I'm afraid you're in the friend zone, dude. Ugh, I thought Chad and I had some real chemistry, but it's pretty clear that I'm just in the friend zone with him. A: "Did he send you a winky face or a smiley face?" B: "Just a smiley face." A: "Hmm, that doesn't seem flirty to me. Hate to tell you this, but you might be in the friend zone."