shoulder to shoulder

Idioms  

1. In close proximity or cooperation, as in The volunteers worked shoulder to shoulder in the effort to rescue the miners. This expression originated in the late 1500s in the military, at first signifying troops in close formation. Its figurative use dates from the late 1800s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shoulder to shoulder

The FA said it stands "shoulder to shoulder with our European colleagues" on the matter.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

"Britain stands with Ukraine, shoulder to shoulder, and our support remains unwavering," Burnham, who took office on July 20, said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

"Britain stands with Ukraine, shoulder to shoulder, and our support remains unwavering," Burnham said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026

His father, the old radical, responds: “There is something good about being in the crowd, about being comrades, shoulder to shoulder with others. And I think there is also something absolutely destructive about it.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

We stood there, shoulder to shoulder, and stared at it, and I knew that Regan’s mind was churning just like mine was with all the possibilities that could lie on the other side.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• collectively
• in tandem
• jointly
• simultaneously
• together