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Glite Dictionary
to shoulder in

to shoulder in

1 7.2
To push into a crowd or group using your body to get ahead
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈʃoʊldər ɪn/
translation icon : meterse a la fuerza
  • Three men in uniforms shouldered in.

Examples

  • At night, Van and I, lying shoulder to shoulder in the same bed, would pull the covers over our heads and listen to the rats scurrying beneath and above us.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • "We're up to our shoulders in our own graves, Frank!"

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Unlike many of you, I have actually stood shoulder to shoulder with Marines in combat and sent hot lead downrange in anger.

    Blog text (22)

  • At night, Van and I, lying shoulder to shoulder in the same bed, would pull the covers over our heads and listen to the rats scurrying beneath and above us.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Singaporeans then did not have to squeeze shoulder to shoulder in public transport during peak hours, the cost of living was much more manageable, there were hardly any elderly touting tissue paper in public, and people could easily pay off their housing debt in 15 to 20 years.

    Blog text (5)

  • They stood shoulder to shoulder in the cramped blister, listening to the flight controllers' crisp voices clicking off the countdown.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • They stood shoulder to shoulder in the cramped blister, listening to the flight controllers' crisp voices clicking off the countdown.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • There must be some term of art for that rhetorical technique: the cost-free anonybiography, the claims to have stood shoulder to shoulder with opponents in search of common ground, and to "dislike" the hardliners on one's own side.

    Blog text (22)

  • She shouldered her way into the crowded room to get a better view of the performance.

  • He decided to shoulder his way in among the group to voice his opinion.

Synonyms

to barge in
vsto shoulder in
  • Informal
59 5.5

Enter a room or conversation suddenly and rudely without being invited

focuses on determined physical entry using upper body force rather than mere sudden rudeness
to elbow
vsto shoulder in
24 6.0

To push past people by using your elbow

uses broader upper body contact and stronger pressure than arm contact
to butt in
vsto shoulder in
  • Informal
21 4.4

Interrupt someone who is speaking without being invited

means forceful bodily entry into a place or group rather than interrupting speech
to push forward
vsto shoulder in
6 3.6

To move ahead by pushing people or things out of the way

relies on upper body contact rather than general force
to push in
vsto shoulder in
  • UK
5 5.6

To join a line or enter a place without waiting your turn

involves forceful physical entry using upper body rather than skipping a turn
to muscle into
vsto shoulder in
  • Informal
1 7.4

Force your way into a group, place, or activity using strength and influence

uses direct upper body contact rather than influence or tactics

Antonyms

to withdraw
466 2.8

To stop taking part in a place or activity

How Forceful

to storm
102 5.7
to barge in
  • Informal
59 5.5
to shoulder in
1 7.2
to squeeze
192 2.8
to edge in
5 5.3

Surface Forms

shoulder in infinitive
shouldered in past
shouldered in past participle
shouldering in present participle
shoulders in third person singular

Morphology

shoulder + in

The meaning 'to push one's way into' is directly derivable from combining 'shoulder' (to push with the shoulder) with 'in' (into/inside); the verb+particle composition literally describes the action. This is a common, compositional pattern in English (and parallels exist in other languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely understand it.

Etymology

Shoulder in comes from the image of someone using their shoulder to push in between people in a crowd. That's why it means 'to push yourself into a place or group' in a forceful or rude way.