What is a two-word phrase for: acquaintances about whom we know nothing












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I need a two-word literary, good-sounding (I know, it sounds vague), and ironic phrase to say something like unknown acquaintances. I want two sides of the phrase to contradict each other. We have an ideal phrase for this in my native language and it sounds something like "people whom we know (acquaintances) whom we don't know." This phrase, however, sounds succinctly as "tanımadığımız tanışlar" where "tanı" means to know/recognize. Now, I am searching for an English alternative of that phrase.



So, here is a bit of context: I am talking about speaker series and I want to invite people whom we meet routinely every single day but don't attempt to get to know them. Examples of such people may be gardeners, dining staff, waiters, police, janitors/janitresses etc.










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    I need a two-word literary, good-sounding (I know, it sounds vague), and ironic phrase to say something like unknown acquaintances. I want two sides of the phrase to contradict each other. We have an ideal phrase for this in my native language and it sounds something like "people whom we know (acquaintances) whom we don't know." This phrase, however, sounds succinctly as "tanımadığımız tanışlar" where "tanı" means to know/recognize. Now, I am searching for an English alternative of that phrase.



    So, here is a bit of context: I am talking about speaker series and I want to invite people whom we meet routinely every single day but don't attempt to get to know them. Examples of such people may be gardeners, dining staff, waiters, police, janitors/janitresses etc.










    share|improve this question
















    bumped to the homepage by Community 20 hours ago


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      I need a two-word literary, good-sounding (I know, it sounds vague), and ironic phrase to say something like unknown acquaintances. I want two sides of the phrase to contradict each other. We have an ideal phrase for this in my native language and it sounds something like "people whom we know (acquaintances) whom we don't know." This phrase, however, sounds succinctly as "tanımadığımız tanışlar" where "tanı" means to know/recognize. Now, I am searching for an English alternative of that phrase.



      So, here is a bit of context: I am talking about speaker series and I want to invite people whom we meet routinely every single day but don't attempt to get to know them. Examples of such people may be gardeners, dining staff, waiters, police, janitors/janitresses etc.










      share|improve this question
















      I need a two-word literary, good-sounding (I know, it sounds vague), and ironic phrase to say something like unknown acquaintances. I want two sides of the phrase to contradict each other. We have an ideal phrase for this in my native language and it sounds something like "people whom we know (acquaintances) whom we don't know." This phrase, however, sounds succinctly as "tanımadığımız tanışlar" where "tanı" means to know/recognize. Now, I am searching for an English alternative of that phrase.



      So, here is a bit of context: I am talking about speaker series and I want to invite people whom we meet routinely every single day but don't attempt to get to know them. Examples of such people may be gardeners, dining staff, waiters, police, janitors/janitresses etc.







      phrase-requests






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      edited Sep 5 '17 at 7:33

























      asked Sep 5 '17 at 7:26







      user241133












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          The technical term for such acquaintances is



          consequential strangers



          Here is a description from NPR:




          You get your coffee from your regular barista. You give a small nod to
          the guy you see every day at the gym. You don't know these people, but
          they're vital to your social landscape.




          (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112602248)



          It's not a very common idiom, but it's an oxymoron, so it does fit your requirement of being ironic or playful.



          Otherwise, there are the more common stock phrases:



          distant acquaintances



          passing acquaintances



          nodding acquaintances (implying you know them only well enough to nod at, but not speak to)






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            active

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            The technical term for such acquaintances is



            consequential strangers



            Here is a description from NPR:




            You get your coffee from your regular barista. You give a small nod to
            the guy you see every day at the gym. You don't know these people, but
            they're vital to your social landscape.




            (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112602248)



            It's not a very common idiom, but it's an oxymoron, so it does fit your requirement of being ironic or playful.



            Otherwise, there are the more common stock phrases:



            distant acquaintances



            passing acquaintances



            nodding acquaintances (implying you know them only well enough to nod at, but not speak to)






            share|improve this answer






























              1














              The technical term for such acquaintances is



              consequential strangers



              Here is a description from NPR:




              You get your coffee from your regular barista. You give a small nod to
              the guy you see every day at the gym. You don't know these people, but
              they're vital to your social landscape.




              (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112602248)



              It's not a very common idiom, but it's an oxymoron, so it does fit your requirement of being ironic or playful.



              Otherwise, there are the more common stock phrases:



              distant acquaintances



              passing acquaintances



              nodding acquaintances (implying you know them only well enough to nod at, but not speak to)






              share|improve this answer




























                1












                1








                1







                The technical term for such acquaintances is



                consequential strangers



                Here is a description from NPR:




                You get your coffee from your regular barista. You give a small nod to
                the guy you see every day at the gym. You don't know these people, but
                they're vital to your social landscape.




                (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112602248)



                It's not a very common idiom, but it's an oxymoron, so it does fit your requirement of being ironic or playful.



                Otherwise, there are the more common stock phrases:



                distant acquaintances



                passing acquaintances



                nodding acquaintances (implying you know them only well enough to nod at, but not speak to)






                share|improve this answer















                The technical term for such acquaintances is



                consequential strangers



                Here is a description from NPR:




                You get your coffee from your regular barista. You give a small nod to
                the guy you see every day at the gym. You don't know these people, but
                they're vital to your social landscape.




                (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112602248)



                It's not a very common idiom, but it's an oxymoron, so it does fit your requirement of being ironic or playful.



                Otherwise, there are the more common stock phrases:



                distant acquaintances



                passing acquaintances



                nodding acquaintances (implying you know them only well enough to nod at, but not speak to)







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Sep 5 '17 at 9:54

























                answered Sep 5 '17 at 7:54









                filistinistfilistinist

                1,360310




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