Meaning of Idiom ‘Joined at the Hip’
To be joined at the hip means to be inseperable; always together; very closely connected; sharing the same opinions, viewpoints, or circumstances. 1Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,2Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms]. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010.,3Ayto, John. [http://amzn.to/2vdGvI7 Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms]. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010.,4Bengelsdorf, Peter. Idioms in the News – 1,000 Phrases, Real Examples. N.p.: Amz Digital Services, 2012.
This idiom, joined at the hip, usually refers to two people, but can also refer to other entities, such as groups, organizations, companies, states, countries, etc. It has been used since at least the early 1960s.
Sentence Examples
“We used to do everything together. We were joined at the hip.”
“Those two were joined at the hip when they were little. I can’t believe they don’t even talk anymore.”
“You just don’t get it, do you? We’re in bed now, joined at the hip, partners in crime.” Cliffhanger (1993)
“The truth is we’re joined at the hip. I get caught, I take you down. You get caught, you turn me in.” The Two Faces of January (2014)
“Look, Jess, you and I are going to be joined at the hip professionally for a long, long time.” Murder, She Wrote (1984)
“Chakotay and Tess. They’re a couple; joined at the hip.” Star Trek: Voyager: Timeless (1998)
Origin
Used since around 1975, this expression alludes to conjoined or ‘Siamese’ twins.
