While every man needs his girl, there’s no bond as special as the one between him and his boys!
Bros are the ones who truly get you; they understand you on a raw level that no gal can.
Maybe it’s the testosterone we have in common or just the way our brains are wired, but I can safely say that my bros have my back in ways only men can make sense of!
Between all the embarrassing pranks, the dangerous dares, the insulting greetings, the impulsive fights, and the moments of wisdom, there’s a bro code that we all follow almost out of instinct.
The bro code is sacred and to be kept no matter what; all guys know that. It gives us an outline to maintain the brohood, even if we never speak out loud of its laws.
Every group can –of course– have its set of specific rules, but there’s a universal creed that men everywhere uphold.
Today’s guide helps you explore the bro code rules to clue up on the ones you might have forgotten and catch up on those you might have had no idea about.
1. Bros have each other’s backs
The most crucial bromandment in the code is to always have your bro’s back whenever and wherever they need it.
Be it a fight, a financial hiccup, a lady pursuit, a breakup, or a spontaneous adventure, bros step up no questions asked.
Whether the situation calls for a 5-hour drive, a night out on the town, or a simple phone call, be there for your bro!
2. Bros before ho..gals
This is probably the most well-known rule of bro-dom right after watching out for your bros, and that is to never let a girl come between you. Whether it’s some girl drama, a needy girl, or your efforts chasing after a girl, the priority should be your boys.
Now I’m not talking about good women that make us better men; I’m talking about the other type of gals, the “unstable” ones. Remember, a girl who’s good for you won’t make you choose.
3. A bro’s current or ex is off-limits
If your bro is or was romantically/intimately involved with a girl, she should automatically become romantically/intimately invisible to you.
Bros never date or hook up with their bros’ exes, and never look at their girlfriends in a lovey or lusty way.
That means no flirting, commenting, caring too much, or sleeping as the damage is almost always unrepairable. Men should never risk their friendship over a girl.
4. No playing when it comes to immediate female relatives
A bro’s sister or mom is the biggest no-no to ever exist, no matter how hot they are. While a comment about them being attractive is fine, that’s about all that can fly in the matter.
If it’s a stepmom or a stepsister, you may have a bit more of a wiggle room, but that depends on your knowledge of your bro and how much he’s willing to put up with when it’s non-blood female relatives.
To this day, I’ve never heard of a bro dating another bro’s sister without it ending in either them becoming brothers-in-law or enemies.
That goes to show that unless you’re absolutely serious about her, dating your boy’s sister is basically you trying to lose your friend!
5. If his girl asks, he’s with you
It’s bound to happen with at least one of your bros’ girls. So when she calls to ask you where he is, you say that he’s currently with you (but in the bathroom) or was with you but just left.
Don’t give her any more information. End the call, and then give him a heads-up.
6. Always take your wingman duties seriously
A wingman’s job is to help his leading man get a girl, and that’s what you shall do. Spare no effort to make your mission a success, from making him look good to diffusing awkward encounters to giving him awesome pep talks.
7. Never stand in the way of a hookup
If there’s a chance for a bro to get some, be careful not to block the action.
Whether by making yourself seem like the “cooler” or “better” option or by asking about his non-existent girlfriend, if you can’t build him up then don’t knock him down.
8. Respect the dibs rule
Whoever likes a girl first and makes it known gets dibs on trying to win her over. As bros, you should act as his wingman, even if you’re not happy about it.
9. No speaking ill of a bro
The brohood has no room for drama, and the biggest source of drama is gossip.
Bros don’t do that; they don’t talk about one another behind their backs unless it’s good things. Bros don’t repeat what others say and they never start rumors.
10. Save your bro from drunk misconceptions
A drunk bro doesn’t have the best judgment. Your duty as his bro is to protect him from his own brain, especially when his brain is tempting him to make out with a woman who’s … not quite his type.
If your bro is sober enough to recognize what he’s trying to get with, then that just leaves you with hotter fish in the sea!
11. If your bro’s girlfriend is annoying, keep it yourself
Let’s face it, it’s rare for the boys to find another bro’s girl fun, or at least not annoying. Still, bros never admit it and simply suffer in silence out of respect for their friend’s choices.
When they break up, however, bros don’t hold back from telling him the truth! In most cases, it even makes him feel better about the relationship ending.
12. Stand up for your bro
Not every bro has the same ability to get confrontational, but all bros should stand up for their boys as best as they can.
The ones who have no problems getting up in someone’s face should do so when they find their friend about to enter a situation.
A lot of the time, you don’t even need to say anything. Just stand square behind your bro, letting him and others know you have his back.
13. If you find out he’s being cheated on, let him know immediately
You can’t let someone make a fool out of your bro. So if you happen to come across information that his girl is unfaithful, you need to tell him.
Whether he gets heartbroken or angry, breaks up, or works on the relationship, you should tell him no matter the consequences.
14. If you’re asked about your opinion, never lie
Whether it’s your opinion of his getup, his ride, or his date, speak the truth when your bro asks for it. There’s a reason they want to know your thoughts and they’re counting on you to give to them straight.
15. Every man for his bill, unless a bro is in a tight spot
Bros aren’t shy to talk about money.
We know it doesn’t grow on trees, so we respect the fact that no bro has to bear the check for the whole gang.
While you can treat your boys every once in a while, the unspoken rule is that we split the bill or just pay for what you ordered.
This of course doesn’t apply to bros who are tight on money. Spot your money-short friend as long as he’s not abusing your generosity.
16. A proper greeting is always in order
When a greeting is due, don’t leave your bro hangin’ or give them a weaker greeting energy.
You should match your boy’s enthusiasm and stick to your typical gestures in the usual sequence. Whether it’s a fist bump or a guy side hug with a back pat, do it right.
17. Ride or die … unless it gets in the way of their hookup
A bro doesn’t bail on ride duty.
If it looks like you’re spending the night with a girl, you must make sure your bro has a ride home. If you can’t, well then, tough luck because abandoning them is out of the question.
You can only get out of being their ride if a girl is giving him one instead.
18. Until you can laugh about it, don’t shame your bro
Bros are bound to make embarrassing, stupid, and sometimes humiliating mistakes. So until enough time has passed that he can laugh about it, avoid poking fun at his misery.
Instead, be supportive and come up with excuses as to why he had no choice but to do that ridiculous thing.
19. Always lend a hand
Bros should be able to always count on each other. So when one of the boys needs help moving, building a treehouse, or choosing a gift for his girl, the rest of the gang is there in a heartbeat!
20. When your bro isn’t around, protect what’s theirs
Be it their girl or their phone, you should look out for the things that matter to your bro and make sure they’re safe.
21. Stick to the urinal etiquette
No bro is unaware of this particular rule; when you’re outside and go to a bathroom, never use the urinal right next to another man unless there are no other urinals available and you can’t hold it any longer.
This is about respecting boundaries and personal space. Also, it goes without saying that no eye contact is to be made, even if you’re talking for some reason.
22. Call him out when he’s about to cheat
If your bro is making moves to hook up while having a girlfriend, the bro code calls for a single, serious intervention if he’s sober and complete restraining if he’s drunk.
23. A drunk bro’s phone is not theirs until they’re sober
Speaking of which, when your boy is drunk, a sober bro is obligated to confiscate their phone until their head clears up.
This is to keep them from drunk-texting a crazy ex or ruining a current relationship by sharing information that should stay hidden.
24. You’re always their get-out-of-jail card
If your bro gets into trouble and calls you from jail, there should be no doubt about your next move. You scrape up the money and bail him out.
You’ll get your money back, but you need to be there for him first. That’s unless he murdered someone…or is it?
25. Always follow through with the bet
One of the foundations of bro-dom is to have as much fun as possible. This usually involves a lot of stupid and/or humiliating and/or irresponsible bets.
Bros always follow through on their bets. You just have to, or you’ll always walk around with a “lame” tag and never really belong to the inner circle.
27. No cheap shots are allowed
Whether physical or emotional, bros don’t hit where it hurts. This means staying above the belt when hitting for a game/bet and staying away from insecurities/touchy subjects when joking or roasting.
28. An accidental look or touch never happened
It often happens that a bro catches a glimpse of his friend’s jewels or grazes that area by mistake. The protocol for such accidents is to move on and never speak of them again.
29. Let the newbie have his spotlight
If you’re out with the boys and you have an interesting story to share that happens to involve a bro who’s newer to the group, it’s guy courtesy to let him tell the story.
You’d be helping him get along with the rest and score some cool points.
30. Once it’s talked through, it’s forgotten
Guys don’t bring back stuff from the past. Once bros settle a difference, it’s beyond history – it becomes as if it never happened. That’s just one of the secrets to our drama-free friendships.
31. Sharing a bed is only allowed in emergencies
Unless there’s absolutely no way around it, bros don’t sleep in the same bed. We need our room, and we don’t need to bump any body parts.
32. Bros erase all internet evidence
If something happens to your bro that’ll lead to others going through his devices, the bro code couldn’t be clearer on what to do.
We all know it – you get in there and delete all traces of their internet history. It’s high up on your priorities list right after getting him to a hospital.
33. Keep the graphics of your bedroom activity to yourself
There’s no need or desire for you to go into explicit detail about your night with a girl. Anything more than an outline may lead to mind pictures of your naked self – no bro is okay with that.
34. Bros draw the tattoo line at girls’names
Bros would let each other get the stupidest tattoos, but we all know by heart that getting a girl’s name tattoo is a bad idea. You must never let that happen.
35. Be there in the tough times
Brohood is full of fun, but it’s also about being present for the bad times. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, losing a job, or striking out of a marriage, be sure to offer your support in any shape or form needed.
36. A bro’s hair is a no-touch zone
It doesn’t matter if it’s the hair on top of your head or your precious beard, bros don’t mess with each other’s hair.
37. Warn your date’s boyfriend
The bro code extends to men you don’t personally know as well. For example, if you spend a night with a girl and find out after that she has a boyfriend, let him know with a penny under his deodorant or with a text.
38. Blind dates are out of the question
If a bro is going to set up another bro with a girl he knows, a picture must be provided. Don’t blindside your bro, ever.
39. Bros know how to take a joke and a prank
Jokes, roasts, and pranks are just a part of guy fun. As long as there are no intentional scars involved (or cheap shots), bros know how to take it!
40. Exercise advice is handed upon request only
Unless you’re an a-hole, keep workout tips to yourself unless a bro asks for it.
41. When things get physical, no pinching should happen
Men hate getting pinched, so, bros never resort to pinching. If you want to inflict physical pain, punch your bro or hit him with a baseball bat – just don’t pinch.
42. Know when to break the bro code
The bro code shall never be broken unless your bro is in danger or you’re sure it’ll bring him a more positive outcome.
Final Thoughts
That was my rundown of the most important bro code rules, and hopefully, I’ve managed to bestow some wisdom upon you. I know there are a lot more bromandments to cover, but I wouldn’t be a bro if I didn’t make you work for it!
