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View synonyms for elbow

elbow

[ el-boh ]

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.


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.

elbow

/ 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. at one's elbow
    at one's elbow within easy reach
  6. out at elbow
    out at elbowout at elbows ragged or impoverished
  7. up to the elbows with
    up to the elbows withup to the elbows in busily occupied with; deeply immersed in


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

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

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

  2. bend / lift / crook an elbow, Informal. to drink alcoholic beverages.
  3. give the elbow, shove aside, get rid of, or reject.
  4. out at the elbows, Also out at elbows.
    1. poorly dressed; shabby.
    2. impoverished.
  5. rub elbows with, to mingle socially with; associate with:

    a resort where royalty rubs elbows with the merely rich.

  6. 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

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Example Sentences

I shut my eyes yet felt aware of the garden at my elbow, the blooms opening as if in time-lapse, the stalks lengthening.

The document had no legal standing, but was offered to the public as a sharp elbow to some of the assertions made by Ryan.

What the state really needs is to figure out how to elbow its way into the tech economy.

He changed sliders three times until he found one that didn't hurt his elbow.

We never tell him, 'Great screwball,' though, because then his elbow would hurt.

Jos lifted himself on his elbow, and fixing his shining eyes on Ramona, said in Spanish, "My mother asks if you are travellers?"

We must make more—much more—elbow room before the Turks get help from Asia or Constantinople.

Having paused a few seconds to recover breath, he brushed his hat with his elbow, and declared himself ready.

Just try it once, and you'll see how ingenious it is—only one must be careful not to throw out the elbow in turning out the wrist.

Lettice raised herself suddenly on her elbow and looked down at him with earnestness.

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Elblągelbow-bender