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student asking question

What does "sit side by side" mean here? I feel like it shouldn't be translated literally.

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Your feeling is correct, the expression is metaphorical to mean that two things can both be observed at the same time or are in some way connected. The "side" in "side by side" refers to a person's left or right side while sitting on a table next to someone else, so their sides are "by" each other (meaning next to). It's a metaphorical phrase that describes two things being connected, next to each other or existing at the same time. Ex: In my list of priorities, the environment and the future sit side by side. Ex: Germany and France have existed peacefully side by side for decades.

Popular Q&As

01/23

Complete the expression with a quiz!

In

Malaysia

the

past

and

the

future

sit

side

by

side.