With you Hob and nob
In Chapter 5 of Great Expectations, the phrase hob and nob is an archaic English expression used as a festive drinking toast meaning "to drink together as friends" or "to clink glasses and take turns drinking to each other's health."
A group of soldiers arrive at the forge looking for Joe to repair their handcuffs. Uncle Pumblechook enthusiastically serves them wine. When Pumblechook offers another glass, the sergeant said eagerly, "with you Hob and nob. The top of mine to the foot of yours .- the foot yours to the top of mine ... Your health.
The sergeant uses this phrase to show companionable, relaxed, and cheerful social interaction between drinking buddies. The line " the top of mine to foot of yours literally describe the physical action of raising, tilting, and clinking their glasses together.
The phrase originally evolved from Old English words habban(to have) and nabban (not to have) In early English literature including Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, it was spelled habnab and meant "hit or miss" or "give and take"
In Dickens's time it turned into " hob or nob" and " hob and nob".
In modern English the phrase fused into hobnob. It means socialise or chat informally.
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