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Reader question: Please explain this sentence: “They may not yet be sharing toothbrushes but they seem to rub along pretty well.” My comments: Are we talking about new roommates here? Let’s say we are and these people have just been together for a week or two. They seem to like each other because they’re rubbing along together without causing each other problems, no big quarrels, no fist fighting, nothing of that sort. In fact, they are so fond of each other that one day we might expect them to use each other’s toothbrushes. Just saying. Sharing toothbrushes? That sounds like we’re talking about two infatuated newlyweds, but anyway to rub along with someone is to get along with them without major problems, without letting small problems getting out of hand. To rub, you see, is put your hand on the surface of something and exert pressure to cause friction. We use a towel to rub the dining table, for example, or the bath tub, for that matter. We rub our hands together, for instance, to warm them in cold weather. And we rub shoulders with others in a public square when we find ourselves in a crowd. Rubbing shoulders? Yeah and that just cannot be avoided in any public place in China. The point is, to rub along with others one expect frictions and problems. After all, people are different, either by color or creed, by rank, by stature or temperament. It’s like putting a porcupine together with a baby panda along with a dog, a rabbit, a dove and a vulture in the same cage. | 
