cheek by jowl

Cultural  

1. Situated side by side or in close contact: “The commuters were packed in the subway cheek by jowl.”

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cheek by jowl Idioms  

1. Side by side, close together, as in In that crowded subway car we stood cheek by jowl, virtually holding one another up. This term dates from the 16th century, when it replaced cheek by cheek.

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Example Sentences

Juxtapositions between high and low, between the virtuous and the criminal, and these things existed cheek by jowl.

From BBC

Staff and residents sat cheek by jowl chatting to each other.

From BBC

Ruoff’s team has already used it to make diamond films composed of thousands of tiny crystals packed cheek by jowl.

From Science Magazine

“The houses are crammed in there, cheek by jowl,” he added.

From Seattle Times

The documentary is distinguished by its striking visual design, which expresses the theme of “the city as a space where human and non-human lives are constantly jostling cheek by jowl.”

From Los Angeles Times