Yup. If I was a big rough drunk bloke at a pub talking to an acquaintence and suddenly saw a stranger about to attack my diminutive best friend, it might go like this:
Me: “Awwww MAAAAATE![sup]1[/sup]”
Me: [to the acquaintence]“Sorry, mate[sup]2[/sup], I’ll need go over and help my mate[sup]3[/sup]”
Me: [to the stranger]"Oi, mate[sup]4[/sup]! Leave my mate[sup]3[/sup] alone or I’ll punch your face in! Do you understand me, mate[sup]5[/sup]?
[My best friend, to me with an expression of gratefulness]“MAAAAAAATE![sup]6[/sup]”
[sup]1[/sup]general expression of dismay
[sup]2[/sup]I can’t remember your name
[sup]3[/sup]best friend
[sup]4[/sup]stranger
[sup]5[/sup]asshole
[sup]6[/sup]expression of warmth