Word of the Day

: October 29, 2009

hobnob

verb HAHB-nahb

What It Means

: to associate familiarly

hobnob in Context

Bill hoped his new job as a reporter would give him an opportunity to hobnob with politicians and other notables.

Did You Know?

"Hob" and "nob" first came together in print in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, when Sir Toby Belch warned Viola (who was disguised as a man) that Sir Andrew wanted to duel. "Hob, nob is his word," said Sir Toby, using "hob nob" to mean something like "hit or miss." Sir Toby's term is probably an alteration of "habnab," a phrase that meant "to have or not have, however it may turn out." After Shakespeare's day, "hob" and "nob" became established in the phrases "to drink hob or nob" and "to drink hobnob," which were used to mean "to drink alternately to each other." Since "drinking hobnob" was generally done among friends, "hobnob" came to refer to congenial social interaction.