Idiom
rub elbows
Meaning
To associate closely; to consort, mingle, or socialize.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“They often rub elbows with famous people.”
“At the charity gala, you have the chance to rub elbows with local business leaders.”
“The young politician attended the exclusive summit specifically to rub elbows with influential diplomats and secure support for his new policy.”
Examples
simple
“They often rub elbows with famous people.”
contextual
“At the charity gala, you have the chance to rub elbows with local business leaders.”
complex
“The young politician attended the exclusive summit specifically to rub elbows with influential diplomats and secure support for his new policy.”
Origin
From *rub* + *elbows*, first recorded in the mid-19th century. The compound suggests a crowd of sufficient density that individuals are forced into physical contact at the joints. The image describes the proximity required for social interaction in a confined space.
Key words
Related idioms
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