rub shoulders with

phrase

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

Of any author, count on Zadie Smith to rub shoulders with a pop star once ten years ago and then get invited to their wedding. — Julia Hass, Literary Hub, 7 July 2026

The third edition will feature more brands, events, and activations than the two previous years, enabling collectors and enthusiasts to rub shoulders with the world’s top watchmakers against the breathtaking backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Mar. 2026

But while Irving Langmuir went on to win the Nobel Prize and rub shoulders with celebrities in and outside of science, and even star in a Kurt Vonnegut novel, Katharine Blodgett remained for most of her career, his apprentice, and she's been largely forgotten. — Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026

Finance professionals rub shoulders with bright young creatives. — Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025