elbow
noun /ˈelbəʊ/
/ˈelbəʊ/
Idioms 
enlarge imagethe joint between the upper and lower parts of the arm where it bends in the middle- She jabbed him with her elbow.
- He rested his elbows on his knees.
- She grazed her elbow in the fall.
- He's fractured his elbow.
Extra ExamplesTopics Bodyb2- A voice at my elbow said, ‘Would Sir care to be seated?’
- Extend your arms without locking your elbows.
- He caught her elbow to steady her.
- He raised himself on one elbow and looked at the bedside clock.
- He rested one elbow on the wall as he spoke.
- He took his guest by the elbow and steered him in the direction of the bar.
- He was up to his elbows in hot water, doing the washing-up.
- I banged my elbow on the table as I got up.
- She dug her elbow into Jim's ribs to remind him not to give the secret away.
- She opened her eyes and propped herself up on one elbow to look at him.
- She slid a hand under his elbow to guide him into the shop.
- She thrust her elbow into her attacker's face.
- She was cradling a small bundle in the crook of her elbow.
- The whole of his arm below the elbow was badly burned.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- left
- right
- sharp
- …
- lean
- place
- rest
- …
- joint
- ligament
- injury
- …
- above the elbow
- at your elbow
- below the elbow
- …
- be up to your elbows in something
- the crook of your elbow
- dig your elbow into somebody’s ribs
- …
- the part of a piece of clothing that covers the elbow
- The jacket was worn at the elbows.
- a part of a pipe, chimney, etc. where it bends at a sharp angle
Word OriginOld English elboga, elnboga, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch elleboog and German Ellenbogen (see also ell, bow2).
Idioms
get the elbow
- (British English, informal) to be told by somebody that they no longer want to have a relationship with you; to be told to go away
give somebody the elbow
- (British English, informal) to tell somebody that you no longer want to have a relationship with them; to tell somebody to go away
more power to somebody’s elbow
- (British English, old-fashioned, informal) used to encourage somebody or express support for their actions
not know your arse from your elbow
- (British English, taboo, slang) to be very stupid; to have absolutely no skill
rub elbows with somebody (North American English)
(also rub shoulders with somebody)
- to meet and spend time with a famous person, socially or as part of your job
- He’s rubbing elbows with stars all the time.
- He had been rubbing elbows with celebrities.