elbow
Noun:
- The joint in the middle of the human arm: The bony, hinged joint connecting the upper arm (humerus) to the forearm (radius and ulna).
- A part of a sleeve: The section of a sleeve that covers the elbow joint.
- A sharp bend or angle: Something resembling the shape of a bent arm, such as a bend in a pipe, road, or river.
Verb:
- To push or shove with the elbow: To use one's elbow to make physical contact, often to move someone aside or to create space.
- To make one's way by pushing with the elbows: To progress through a crowd or tight space by using one's elbows.
Noun:
- She rested her chin on her elbow while thinking.
- The jacket was worn thin at the elbows.
- The river takes a sharp elbow to the north just past the town.
Verb:
- He had to elbow his competitor to get to the ball.
- She elbowed her way to the front of the line.
"At someone's elbow": Very close to someone; readily available.
- He always kept a dictionary at his elbow while writing.
"Out at (the) elbows": Worn out, shabby, or poor.
- His old suit was looking rather out at the elbows.
"To rub elbows with someone": To associate or mix with a particular group of people.
- At the gala, she rubbed elbows with celebrities and politicians.
"Up to one's elbows in something": Deeply involved in or very busy with something.
- She's up to her elbows in paperwork this week.
Elbow grease (noun, informal): Strenuous physical effort, especially hard polishing or cleaning.
- It took a lot of elbow grease to get the floor that shiny.
Elbow room (noun): Adequate space to move or work in.
- We need more elbow room in this tiny kitchen.
- Noun (joint): Joint, bend, angle.
- Verb: Jostle, nudge, push, shove.
Elbow aside: To push someone out of the way using one's elbow, often to take their place.
- He elbowed aside the other reporters to ask the first question.
Elbow out: To force someone out of a position or situation, often through competition or pressure.
- The new company is trying to elbow out the established competitors.
"More power to your elbow!" (British English): An expression of encouragement, meaning "I hope you succeed."
- You're starting your own business? More power to your elbow!
"To give someone the elbow" (informal): To end a relationship with someone; to dismiss or reject someone.
- After the argument, she gave him the elbow.
- the joint of a mammal or bird that corresponds to the human elbow
- the part of a sleeve that covers the elbow joint
- his coat had patches over the elbows
- a length of pipe with a sharp bend in it
- a sharp bend in a road or river
- hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
- shove one's elbow into another person's ribs
- push one's way with the elbows