press the flesh
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpress the fleshpress the fleshHELLOto shake hands with a lot of people – used humorously The president reached into the crowd to press the flesh. → pressExamples from the Corpuspress the flesh• Smiling happily, the President reached into the crowd to press the flesh.• Clinton stayed long enough to press the flesh and view several sample issue ads with the donors.