rub shoulders with
idiom
informal
: to meet and talk with (someone) in a friendly way
The awards dinner gave me the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of today's greatest American poets.
Examples of rub shoulders with in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Featuring performances from Blondie singer Debbie Harry and Afrobeats star Wizkid, the glitzy ceremony saw major fashion industry figures rub shoulders with the stars of entertainment, music and sport, including Rita Ora and Venus Williams.
—
Oscar Holland, CNN, 3 Dec. 2024
At the reopening, billionaire donors from France and beyond will rub shoulders with other guests far less fortunate.
—John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
The rooms feel austere and indulgent, while Italian flea market finds rub shoulders with bespoke pieces crafted with an ecclesiastical bent.
—Paul Jebara, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2024
World leaders frequently rub shoulders with the rich and famous, but does that mean they themselves can be counted among this category of people?
—Katharina Buchholz, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rub shoulders with 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Oscar Holland, CNN, 3 Dec. 2024
At the reopening, billionaire donors from France and beyond will rub shoulders with other guests far less fortunate.
—John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
The rooms feel austere and indulgent, while Italian flea market finds rub shoulders with bespoke pieces crafted with an ecclesiastical bent.
—Paul Jebara, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2024
World leaders frequently rub shoulders with the rich and famous, but does that mean they themselves can be counted among this category of people?
—Katharina Buchholz, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rub shoulders with
Dictionary Entries Near rub shoulders with
Cite this Entry
“Rub shoulders with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rub%20shoulders%20with. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share