WordGarden.ioelbow
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈɛlbəʊ/
US
- /ˈɛlˌboʊ/
Meanings
Noun
the joint between the upper and lower arm
a bend or angled section in something such as a pipe or road
a short curved piece of macaroni
Verb
to push someone or make your way using your elbow
Beyond the definition
We all have elbows, that bony part where your upper arm and forearm meet. But "elbow" is not just about the body. It can also mean a quick, sometimes playful, nudge. Imagine gently elbowing a friend to get their attention in a crowded room.
The phrase "rub elbows with" means to spend time with other people, often people who are important or famous. Imagine rubbing elbows with movie stars at a party. And if someone tells you to "keep your elbows off the table," they are reminding you about good table manners. It is a surprisingly useful little word.
The elbow is the joint between the upper arm and the forearm, allowing us to bend the arm and do countless actions, from lifting heavy objects to writing a letter. However, the word "elbow" goes far beyond this body part. It is a flexible term with several different meanings and common expressions.
First, it can refer to the act of nudging someone. While "elbowing someone aside" suggests pushing through a crowd, a light "elbow in the ribs" is often used to share a private joke or get a friend's attention. More figuratively, "rubbing elbows with" someone means spending time with them socially, especially if they are influential or well known. For instance, you might rub elbows with politicians at a formal event.
The term also describes things with a sharp angle or bend, such as an "elbow" in a plumbing pipe or a sharp "elbow" in a river or road. If you find yourself in a cramped situation, you might ask for some "elbow room," which means the physical or metaphorical space needed to move or act freely. And if a chore is especially tough, it might require some "elbow grease," a colorful way of saying it needs strong physical effort.
Whether it is a part of your body, a social action, or part of a common expression, the word "elbow" has a lot more going on than just a simple bend in the arm.
Examples
- 1
Minor injury
I banged my elbow on the car door.
- 2
Body posture
She leaned on her elbows and listened quietly.
- 3
Clothing
His jacket was worn thin at the elbows.
- 4
Physical space
We finally have enough elbow room in the kitchen to cook together.
- Phraseelbow room
enough space to move comfortably
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Gentle nudge
She elbowed me gently and pointed at the screen.
- 6
Moving through crowd
He elbowed past the crowd and ran for the train.
- Patternelbow past + crowd
push through using your elbows
- 7
Famous people
At the conference, I got to rub elbows with some famous writers.
- Phraserub elbows with
spend time in the same place as important or famous people
- 8
Competitive entry
She elbowed her way into the industry by taking every small chance she got.
- Patternelbow your way into + place/position
force your way into a place or position
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- elbownounverb
Forms
- elbowspluralnounverb
- elbowedpast tenseverbnoun
- elbowing-ing formverbnoun