associate with

associate with

1. To have a relationship with someone. In this usage, a reflexive pronoun can be used between "associate" and "with." I don't associate with criminals like him. I think he's happy to associate himself with successful people like us.
2. To connect various people or things in one's mind, usually for a specific reason that is unique to that person. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "associate" and "with." I associate the smell of cinnamon with Christmas because of the cookies my mother used to bake every year. He always associates Liz with me because he met us at the same time.
See also: associate
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

associate oneself with someone or something

to join someone or something as a partner or friend. I wanted to associate myself with a prestigious law firm. She associated herself with people of low repute.
See also: associate

associate someone or something with someone or something

to link someone or something [in one's mind] to someone or something else. (Something and someone can occur in all possible combinations.) I always associate Walter with pizza for some reason. I associate pizza with stringy cheese.
See also: associate

associate with someone

to be friendly with someone; to be acquainted with someone socially in a work setting. We seek to associate with persons like ourselves. I like to associate with interesting people.
See also: associate
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

associate with

v.
1. To keep company with someone or some group: They are very snobbish and don't associate with people from our side of town.
2. To link something in the mind with something else: People often associate sunny weather with happiness.
See also: associate
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • associate
  • associate oneself with
  • not do (someone or oneself) any favors
  • identify with
  • hitch (one's) horses together
  • hitch horses together
  • buy (yourself) time
  • buy time
  • orient
  • orient to (something)
References in classic literature
We children who were used to the free range of woods and fields were homesick for the country in our narrow city yard, and I associate with this longing the 'Farmer's Boy of Bloomfield,' which my father got for me.
My Literary Passions
Robinson was an associate with the law firm of Sidley and Austin, and the law firm of McKenna, Conner, and Cuneo, where she handled a variety of bank regulatory matters.
Changes in board staff
In short, we want to associate with them, while still living out our lives as laypeople."
Who's following orders? The appeal of religious associates
Marc Alper, sales associate with WRA Properties, represented both parties in the transaction;
Sales. (On the Real Estate Scene)
Mackey was a Senior Associate with Allen & Associates Appraisal Group, Inc., based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
Formerly, Owen was an Acquisitions associate with Imperial Credit Commercial Mortgage Investment Corp.
Who's News - MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL