Spent time in his presence, was in his presence, stayed in his presence
Stayed in his proximity. Spent time together with him.
("Rabbi Yehuda said in the name of Rav: Anyone who prides himself on the cloak of a Torah scholar while he is not a Torah scholar—he is not admitted into the presence of the Holy One, blessed be He" – Bava Batra 98a)
Translation
Expression (Hebrew)
בִּילָּה בִּמְחִיצָתוֹ, הָיָה בִּמְחִיצָתוֹ, שָׁהָה בִּמְחִיצָתוֹ
Definition (Hebrew)
שָׁהָה בִּקְרָבָתוֹ. בִּילָּה זְמַן יַחַד אִתּוֹ.
("אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: כָּל הַמִּתְגָּאֶה בְּטַלִּית שֶׁל תַּלְמִיד חָכָם וְאֵינוֹ תַּלְמִיד חָכָם – אֵין מַכְנִיסִין אוֹתוֹ בִּמְחִיצָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא" – בָּבָא בַּתְרָא צ״ח ע״א)