elbow

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɛlbəʊ/

noun

  • the joint between the forearm and the upper arm: she propped herself up on one elbow
  • the part of the sleeve of a garment covering the elbow: I darned the elbows of my corduroy jacket
  • a thing resembling an elbow, in particular a piece of piping bent through an angle: a cross-fitting with elbows and straight pipework

verb

[with object and adverbial]
  • 1push or strike (someone) with one’s elbow: one player had elbowed another in the face
  • [no object, with adverbial of direction] move by pushing past people with one’s elbows: he elbowed his way through the crush
  • 2treat (a person or idea) dismissively: the issues which concerned them tended to be elbowed aside by men

Phrases

at one's elbow

close at hand; nearby: he was standing at her elbow, holding out her glass

elbow-to-elbow

very close together: on the bank were dozens of anglers fishing elbow-to-elbow

give someone the elbow

British informal reject or dismiss someone: I tried to get her to give him the elbow she decided to give tradition the elbow

up to one's elbows in

informal
with one’s hands plunged in (something): I was up to my elbows in the cheese-potato mixture
deeply involved in (a task or activity): we’re going to get up to our elbows in the selection process

Origin:

Old English elboga, elnboga, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch elleboog and German Ellenbogen (see also ell1, bow1)