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to huddle together

to huddle together

13 3.1
Move close together in a small group for warmth or safety
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈhʌdəl təˈɡɛðər/
translation icon : acurrucarse
  • In the cold winter night, the campers had to huddle together for warmth around the fire.

And she surrounds my body and we're tight together, huddled together.

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Examples

  • You know... we really should huddle together for warmth.

  • Without discussing it, they moved closer, huddling together in the center of the street.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Look, our only chance is to huddle together.

  • Just huddle together until the lights burn out.

  • When people get cold, they tend to huddle together, if you get my meaning.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Normally, these animals would huddle together for warmth.

  • Four figures, two large and two small, huddle together against the uncertainty of the world outside.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The four of them sit that way in the back of the helicopter, huddled together.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Families and friends huddled together... shaken but grateful to still be alive.

  • There they would sit and huddle together under a blanket until the cranes began to fly.

    Fiction book (1997)

Synonyms

to huddle
vsto huddle together
114 3.1

To stay close together for warmth or safety

also happens as a response to fear or uncertainty
to gather around
vsto huddle together
70 1.9

Come together in a group near someone or something

brings people close mainly for warmth comfort or fear rather than to focus attention
to crowd together
vsto huddle together
2 3.0

To stand or move closely in a group

involves smaller groups seeking warmth comfort or protection rather than large groupings
to puddle up
vsto huddle together
  • Informal
7.6

To gather closely in a small group for warmth or company

is used more for warmth comfort or fear than for playful gatherings

Antonyms

110 2.7

To make people or animals move quickly in different directions

104 4.4

To cause people and things, like a crowd or fog, to spread over a wide area

How Close

to press
141 2.7
to huddle together
13 3.1
to gather
1.0

Surface Forms

huddle together infinitive
huddled together past participle
huddling together present participle
huddles together third person singular

Morphology

huddle + together

The meaning is directly and predictably built from 'huddle' (to gather closely/curl up for warmth) plus 'together' (in close proximity), so a learner who knows both words can infer the MWE refers to gathering closely, often for warmth or comfort. This compositional pattern is common and literal rather than idiomatic, making it easily understandable to B1 learners.

Etymology

Huddle together comes from the image of people or animals crowding very close; they huddle together with their bodies touching to keep warm or feel safe. So it means 'to gather closely for warmth, comfort, or because of fear'.