arm in arm

• arm-in-arm

arm in arm (not comparable)

1. With arms linked together; with arms around each other's shoulder or waist. (of two or more people)

   Synonym: arm in crook

   The two friends walked along arm in arm.

   • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, ”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies.  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     Buckingham, doth York intend no harm to us,
     That thus he marcheth with thee arm in arm?

   • 1868–1869, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, Little Women: , (please specify |part=1 or 2), Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC, pages 82-83:

     […] Laurie came running down stairs, and brought up with a start of surprise at the sight of Jo arm in arm with his redoubtable grandfather.

   • 2015, Paul Beatty, chapter 23, in The Sellout, New York: Macmillan:

     Foy had prepped his troops for a boisterous chorus of “We Shall Overcome.” They were joined together arm-in-arm, swaying and humming slowly to the beat.

2. (figuratively) In collusion, in concert (with someone).
   • 1989, Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day‎, London: Faber and Faber, pages 75–76:

     ‘Frenchmen. Really, I mean to say, Stevens, Frenchmen. […] And to think we have to be seen by the world to be arm in arm with them. One wishes for a good bath at the mere reminder.’

• hand in hand