If you and your friend are debating whether to buy the tight red shirt versus the tight blue shirt, it's a fairly easy segue to asking the stranger for their opinion.

如果你和朋友正在商量该买这件红色衬衫还是该买那件蓝色衬衫，此时你便可趁机向你的目标征求意见。

youdao

I'm treating you as a friend, asking you to share my present minuses in the hope that I can ask you to share my future pluses.

我待你如朋友，要求你包容我现在的不足，希望能与你分享我将来的优点。

youdao

For example, a friend who in the past gave you a well-paying job now is asking you to take one that is not so satisfactory.

比如，一个朋友曾经给了你一份美差，现在又要你做一项不称心的工作。

youdao

John Gibson, founder of the Undershaw Preservation Trust, said a friend of the trust had been given an asking price over the phone but campaigners had not been able to obtain any sale particulars about the property or find a website with the information.

BBC: Conan Doyle Hindhead house put up for sale in Surrey

More than 100 Republicans also submitted a "friend of the court" brief to the Supreme Court asking the justices to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage.

WSJ: Hillary Clinton announces support for gay marriage

Whether you are asking for a job introduction or a dentist recommendation, the effectiveness of your request to any specific friend comes down to willingness (will this person get back to me?) and ability (will this person know the contact I need?).

FORBES: How To Get What You Want From Anyone By Addressing These Two Issues