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Life is about the dealing with other people: those above us (our boss), those ___ (around, beside) us (our colleagues, friends) and those who look up to us (our employees and children).
The given answer is 'around'. I'd like to know if we can also use 'beside'. Could I ask native speakers to help me please? Thank you in advance.
Joham, seems to me that 'beside' gives the sense of a physical nearness, whereas in the sentence you've quoted the physical whereabouts is less important than the overall meaning. To utter 'beside' might steer 'above us' to portray an image of our boss on a trapeze...not a pretty sight.
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beside and around 
Re: beside and around 
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