grammar - "Meet my boss" or "meet with my boss"?

What is the difference between "meet" and "meet with"?

For example, which of these should I say?

1. I met my boss yesterday


2. I met with my boss yesterday


3. I'm meeting my friends tonight


4. I'm meeting with my friends tonight

Answer

I met my boss yesterday.

Without elaboration, this implies that you met your boss for the first time.

I met my boss at Spago^* yesterday.

You had lunch or dinner with your boss. (It was not your first encounter.)

I met with my boss yesterday.

You got together with your boss for a specific purpose. It was likely to be a working meeting of some sort.

I'm meeting my friends tonight.

You're going out to have fun with your friends.

I'm meeting with my friends tonight.

You're getting together with friends for some shared purpose. It might be for fun, but the "with" is more likely to be used to suggest a special purpose to the meeting: planning, hobby, whatever.

^* Spago is an upscale restaurant, suitable for business luncheons or important dinners.