View synonyms for elbow

elbow

[ el-boh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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.

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of elbow¹

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of elbow¹

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

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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, Also out at elbows.
1. poorly dressed; shabby.
2. impoverished.
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: Also up to the elbows.
I am up to my elbows in answering mail.

More idioms and phrases containing elbow

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

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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