Sometimes, you might hear the expression, “Are you a friend of Bill W’s?”
This is a secret code for “Are you a member of AA?” without giving too much away. “Bill W.” is a reference to Bill Wilson, a co-founder of AA. It’s useful on the train with a early morning commuting acquantance or maybe in mixed company around people you don’t know.
It might come in handy if you find yourself in crisis at an airport. Just ask any gate agent to page “any friend of Bill W.”.
Maybe you’re at a party with a lot of people you don’t know, and you’re looking for someone to talk to. Ask your host if he’s aware of any other friends of Bill W’s that might be there. You never know where you might meet some of our friends!