elbow

American  

[el-boh] / ˈɛl boʊ /

noun

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

2. the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped.

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

4. Architecture.  crossette.

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

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verb (used with object)

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

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

verb (used without object)

1. to elbow one's way.

   He elbowed through the crowd.

idioms

1. at one's elbow,  within easy reach; nearby.

   A virtue of the cottage is that the ocean is at your elbow.

2. rub elbows with,  to mingle socially with; associate with.

   a resort where royalty rubs elbows with the merely rich.

3. out at the elbows,  Also out at elbows.

   1. poorly dressed; shabby.

   2. impoverished.

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

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

6. up to one's elbows,  very busy; engrossed: Also up to the elbows.

   I am up to my elbows in answering mail.

elbow British  

/ ˈɛlbəʊ /

noun

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

2. the corresponding joint or bone of birds or mammals

3. the part of a garment that covers the elbow

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

5. within easy reach

6. ragged or impoverished

7. busily occupied with; deeply immersed in

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verb

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

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

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

elbow More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing elbow

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

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Etymology

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 ell ², bow ¹

Example Sentences

"I asked the referee, he said to me that it was not an elbow," Maresca said.

From BBC

Bodies collide in a whirl of elbows and flying sneakers.

From Los Angeles Times

Before Perth he had not played a Test for 15 months, firstly because of an elbow problem, then the surgery on his left knee.

From BBC

It says that the government’s proper role is to clear a path so those who put in the elbow grease can earn success.

From The Wall Street Journal

Stokes will take his place in the England attack, probably along express paceman Mark Wood, who is set to play his first Test since August 2024 after elbow and knee injuries.

From BBC

Related Words

• bulldoze
• bump
• hook
• hustle
• knock
• nudge
• shove