hobnob
- to associate on very friendly terms (usually followed by with): She often hobnobs with royalty.
- Archaic. to drink together.
- a friendly, informal chat.
Origin of hobnob
Examples from the Web for hobnob
Historical Examples of hobnob
He'd not turn from the duty intrusted to him to hobnob with a Prince of the Blood.
The Knight Of Gwynne, Vol. I (of II)Charles James Lever
Again I am struck by the familiar way in which the Russians hobnob with the Mongols.
A Wayfarer in ChinaElizabeth Kendall
You would not wish to insult me by refusing to hobnob with me?
The Red TrackGustave Aimard
Here on the road they are as good as any; they hobnob with the rose.
In the OpenStanton Davis Kirkham
How odd it is that the Joyeuses should care to hobnob with demi-castors.
The MonsterEdgar Saltus
hobnob
- to socialize or talk informally
- obsolete to drink (with)
Word Origin for hobnob
Word Origin and History for hobnob
1763, "to drink to each other," from hob and nob (1756) "to toast each other by turns, to buy alternate rounds of drinks," from c.1550 hab nab "to have or have not, hit or miss," probably ultimately from Old English habban, nabban "have, not have," with the negative particle ne- attached, as was customary. Modern sense of "socialize" is 1866. Related: Hobnobbed; hobnobbing.