shoulder to shoulder

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.

Example Sentences

“It used to be shoulder to shoulder out here,” he said, looking along the boulevard.

From Los Angeles Times

"It is especially poignant that RAF pilots and crew are once again standing shoulder to shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared security," Healey said.

From BBC

They squeezed in and sat shoulder to shoulder with the others on the floor.

From Los Angeles Times

JD Vance was delivering his monumentally boring acceptance speech, and Kirk and I wound up standing shoulder to shoulder, a pair of notably tall white men in a packed aisle just behind the central section of seating.

From Salon

“To be seen standing shoulder to shoulder with two superpowers in China is an incredibly powerful image of propaganda to show to North Korean residents.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• collectively 
• in tandem www.thesaurus.com
• jointly 
• simultaneously 
• together