Holding It for a Friend

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

A stock phrase a character may use about having something embarrassing or shouldn't have and is questioned about it. It is a Sub-Trope of Suspiciously Specific Denial.

Examples of Holding It for a Friend include:

Film

Sam Sleaze: What seems to be the problem, officer? What's the charge?
State Trooper: What about counterfeiting, extortion, fraud, impersonating a dentist, stealing an apple from a kid?
Sam Sleaze: Oh, about that apple, officer, I can explain that. We was just holding it for a friend.

Beans, you brought your own bacon.
No, I'm holding it for a friend. Want some?

  • In Shrek 2, Puss In Boots says this of some catnip that's found on him.
  • Parodied on The Animal, where the main character catches someone at the airport using his newly heightened sense of smell. After he pulls a pack of cocaine out of the man's buttcrack, the man looks around nervously, and says "I don't know where that came from, but it's not mine."

Literature

  • In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Argus Filch pretends that the Kwikspell course Harry found on his desk is actually for a friend, since it would mean that people would find out he didn't have magic.

Live-Action TV

Stephen Kepler: [Trying to hide his marijuana] Carrots! Medicinal carrots! Personal-use medicinal carrots that were here when I moved in and I'm holding it for a friend!

Western Animation

  • South Park episode "Major Boobage". A cat is found in Kyle's drawer.

Then why did your mother find this in your dressing drawer?
All right. Look,that isn't mine. I'm just holding it for a friend.
Don't lie to us, Kyle! How long have you been on the cheese (huffing cat urine)?

  • In one episode of Family Guy, exotic toads become a trendy drug (so to speak) among high schoolers. Popular girl Connie D'Amico nearly gets caught with one at school, but hides it in Meg's backpack and tells her to hold onto it for a while. When Meg's parents find the toad, she tries to explain that she was just holding it for a friend - which, in this case, is mostly true (Connie isn't exactly Meg's friend).
  • In an episode of Futurama, Hermes' son Dwight has stolen what he thinks is a cigar from him when he's caught;

Hermes: That's not a cigar. [[[Beat]] and he realises] And it's not mine!

  • In an episode of Batman Beyond, Terry is caught with "slappers" (a performance-enhancing drug using Bane's old Super Serum). He truthfully tried to explain to his mom they weren't his.

"They're not mine! I found them!"

  • Transformers Animated: Starscream's compulsive liar clone has Sentinel Prime cornered, only for Optimus and co. to arrive.

Optimus: Step away from the Autobot!
Clone: What? This isn't my Autobot! I was just holding him for a friend.

Real Life

  • After being caught with a packet of cocaine in her purse, Paris Hilton said that the purse was not hers and she had borrowed it from a friend.
  • For obvious reasons, airports have prominent signs asking people to not accept things from strangers with the premise of "please hold this for me, I'll be right back".
  • Without naming names, it's quite common for gangstas and gangsta rappers to have their girlfriend keep their gun hidden in her purse.
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