Bao fo jiao is a Chinese idiom which translates to "embracing the Buddha's foot". It's used to poke fun at people who don't express devotion to the Buddha until they're in need of his help.

Buddist or not, bao fo jiao is a nice reminder to never treat people as a means to an end. Favors are a wonderful and helpful aspect of our many relationships but they shouldn't be the sole reason for our relationships.

An interesting way to frame our relationships is to ask ourselves what unspoken hopes and expectations we are placing on them? And, furthermore, asking ourselves whether or not we would still maintain those relationships if those hopes and expectations weren't being met.

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