hobnob

[hob-nob]

verb (used without object)

hobnobbed, hobnobbing 

1. to associate on very friendly terms (usually followed bywith ).

   She often hobnobs with royalty.

2. Archaic.,  to drink together.

noun

1. a friendly, informal chat.

hobnob

/ ˈhɒbˌnɒb /

verb

1. to socialize or talk informally

2. obsolete,  to drink (with)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hobnob¹

First recorded in 1825–30 in the sense “hit or miss; at random”; from the phrase hab or nab literally, “have or have not,” from Middle English habbe or nabbe, Old English habban “to have” + nabbn “not to have” (from ne “not” + habban “to have”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hobnob¹

C18: from hob or nob to drink to one another in turns, hence, to be familiar, ultimately from Old English habban to _have + nabban not to have

Example Sentences

This is where India's rich and powerful have hobnobbed for years, building social capital over cigars or squash and brokering business deals during golf sessions.

Read more on BBC

Bankman-Fried was there too, hobnobbing with world leaders and living in the Bahamas.

Read more on Salon

Since the election, Trump has spent most of his time hobnobbing with billionaires and obviously not giving the price of groceries a second thought.

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Cohn, on the other hand, went on to hobnob with the rich and famous including just about every powerful politician in America.

Read more on Salon

He preened, he hugged, he shook hands and hobnobbed with legends and politicians.

Read more on Los Angeles Times