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Glite Dictionary
to rest on someone's shoulder

to rest on someone's shoulder

1 2.8
To lean your head or body against another person's shoulder for comfort
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : apoyarse en el hombro de alguien
  • When we ran out of light banter, we rested, with me lying flat on my back and Amber nestled in the crook of my arm, her head resting on my shoulder.
  • head resting on my shoulder
  • hand resting on my shoulder
  • chin resting on my shoulder

Examples

  • Lily rested a hand gently on Jenny's shoulder.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • I turn my head slowly and see a gnarled, old hand resting on my shoulder.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Her head was resting on your shoulder.

    Kismet (1944)

  • Now oblige me by allowing her head to rest on your shoulder.

    The Mikado (1939)

  • Rose, looking thoughtful, rests her head on her father's shoulder.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • I was usually unaware of her entrance into my room until I heard her soft voice or felt her slender hand resting on my shoulder.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • "You just hold on and go with the music," she said, taking my left hand in her bony fingers, her other hand resting on my shoulder.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • His gaze moved from my face to where Tanner's hand rested on my shoulder and back again.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • She leaned back into my side then, her head resting on my shoulder as it had been before, the two of us huddled close.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • After a long day, she felt tired and decided to rest her head on his shoulder for comfort.

Synonyms

to rest
vsto rest on someone's shoulder
182 1.0

To put something on or against something so it stays steady

centres on seeking comfort by leaning on another person rather than surfaces
to lean against
vsto rest on someone's shoulder
85 1.4

To rest your body lightly on something for support

involves leaning on another person for comforting contact rather than on objects
to rest on
vsto rest on someone's shoulder
66 1.0

To put part of your body or an object on something for support

is specifically about leaning on another person for comfort or support
to lean on
vsto rest on someone's shoulder
61 1.8

To rest against someone or something for support

uses another person specifically for comfort by leaning the head or body
to pillow
vsto rest on someone's shoulder
3 3.7

To rest your head on a soft cushion for comfort

relies on another person for comfort rather than an object
to lay one's head
vsto rest on someone's shoulder
4.2

To find a place to sleep or rest

means leaning on another person for comfort rather than sleeping in place

How Playful

to bonk
  • Informal
5 7.6
to touch
∞ 1.0
to rest on someone's shoulder
1 2.8

Surface Forms

rest on someone's shoulder infinitive
rested on someone's shoulder past
rested on someone's shoulder past participle
resting on someone's shoulder present participle
rests on someone's shoulder third person singular

Morphology

rest + on + someone's + shoulder

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from the parts: 'rest' (to place or lean), 'on' (location), 'someone's' (possessive), and 'shoulder' (body part). This literal locative/possessive pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows standard English syntax, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

The phrase rest on someone's shoulder comes from a clear image of leaning your head to rest on another person's shoulder, like when someone holds you while you cry. That's why it means to get 'comfort' or 'support' from another person.