rub shoulders


rub shoulders with (someone)

To meet and spend time in a social environment with one who is noteworthy, famous, or important. I heard you were rubbing shoulders with the governor last Saturday. These conferences always have a meet-and-greet portion so you get a chance to rub shoulders with the heads of the tech industry.See also: rub, shoulder

rub shoulders

associate or come into contact with another person. A US variant of this expression is rub elbows . 1943 Graham Greene The Ministry of Fear It wasn't exactly a criminal world, though eddying along its dim and muted corridors you might possibly rub shoulders with genteel forgers. See also: rub, shoulder

rub ˈshoulders (with somebody)

(American English also rub ˈelbows (with somebody)) (informal) meet and spend time with rich or famous people, socially or as part of your job: I used to rub shoulders with some very wealthy people when I worked in banking.See also: rub, shoulder