IdiomBody & Senses

English

shoulder to shoulder

Meaning: Side by side, working together.

Example: “The villagers worked shoulder to shoulder to sandbag the river.”

Origin: Soldiers in close ranks stood literally shoulder to shoulder. The figurative sense of standing together is found from the 16th century.

Equivalents in other languages

Spanish: codo con codo Literally: Elbow with elbow

More English idioms

rough and ready Crude but good enough for the purpose.
keep up appearances To behave as if nothing is wrong, to protect one's reputation.
grow like wildfire To spread very fast.
at the stroke of a pen By one quick official decision.
not on your life Absolutely not.
make a clean break To end something completely rather than gradually.

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