rubs elbows

phrase

variants or rubs shoulders
present tense third-person singular of rub elbows
as in mixes
to take part in social activities regularly rubs elbows with celebrities The fundraiser was an opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the most influential innovators in the industry.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rubs elbows Margaret Keane’s big-eyed children gaze unabashedly at a girl sketched by Pablo Picasso, and cartoonist Rose O’Neill rubs elbows with Vincent van Gogh. Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rubs elbows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubs%20elbows. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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