elbow

[ el-boh ]

/ ˈɛl boʊ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR elbow ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the bend or joint of the human arm between upper arm and forearm.

the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped.

something bent like an elbow, as a sharp turn in a road or river, or a piece of pipe bent at an angle.

Architecture. crossette.

Also called ell, el. a plumbing pipe or pipe connection having a right-angled bend.

verb (used with object)

to push with or as if with the elbow; jostle.

to make (one's way) by so pushing.

verb (used without object)

to elbow one's way: He elbowed through the crowd.

Idioms for elbow

at one's elbow, within easy reach; nearby: A virtue of the cottage is that the ocean is at your elbow.

bend/lift/crook an elbow, Informal. to drink alcoholic beverages.

give the elbow, shove aside, get rid of, or reject.

out at the elbows,

poorly dressed; shabby.
impoverished.

Also out at elbows.

rub elbows with, to mingle socially with; associate with: a resort where royalty rubs elbows with the merely rich.

up to one's elbows, very busy; engrossed: I am up to my elbows in answering mail. Also up to the elbows.

Origin of elbow

before 1000; Middle English elbowe, Old English el(n)boga; cognate with Middle Dutch elle(n)bōghe, Old High German el(l)inbogo (German Ellenbogen), Old Norse ǫl(n)bogi; literally, “forearm-bend.” See ell², bow¹

Words nearby elbow

elbe river, elberfeld, elbert, elberta, elbląg, elbow, elbow bone, elbow catch, elbow grease, elbow joint, elbow room

British Dictionary definitions for rub elbows with

elbow

/ (ˈɛlbəʊ) /

noun

the joint between the upper arm and the forearm, formed by the junction of the radius and ulna with the humerus

the corresponding joint or bone of birds or mammals

the part of a garment that covers the elbow

something resembling an elbow, such as a sharp bend in a road or river

at one's elbow within easy reach

out at elbow or out at elbows ragged or impoverished

up to the elbows with or up to the elbows in busily occupied with; deeply immersed in

verb

(tr) to reject; dismiss. Also: give the elbow

to make (one's way) by shoving, jostling, etc

(tr) to knock or shove with or as if with the elbow

Word Origin for elbow

Old English elnboga; see ell ², bow ²; related to Old Norse olbogi, Old High German elinbogo

Medical definitions for rub elbows with

elbow

[ ĕl′bō′ ]

n.

The joint or bend of the arm between the forearm and the upper arm. cubitus

The bony outer projection of this joint.

Something having a bend or an angle similar to an elbow.

Idioms and Phrases with rub elbows with (1 of 2)

rub elbows with

Also, rub shoulders with. Mix or socialize with, as in There's nothing like rubbing elbows with the rich and famous, or At the reception diplomats were rubbing shoulders with heads of state. Both of these terms allude to being in close contact with someone. [Mid-1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with rub elbows with (2 of 2)

elbow

In addition to the idioms beginning with elbow

elbow grease
elbow room

also see:

at someone's elbow
crook one's elbow
out at the elbows
rub elbows with

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

elbow

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Idioms for elbow

Origin of elbow

Words nearby elbow

British Dictionary definitions for rub elbows with

noun

verb

Word Origin for elbow

Medical definitions for rub elbows with

n.

Idioms and Phrases with rub elbows with (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with rub elbows with (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

elbow

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Idioms for elbow

Origin of elbow

Words nearby elbow

Words related to rub elbows with

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noun

verb

Word Origin for elbow

Medical definitions for rub elbows with

n.

Idioms and Phrases with rub elbows with (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with rub elbows with (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for rub elbows with