Rub elbows

When we network or socialize, we rub elbows with each other. Talking and forming relationships with each other at social events is critical.

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English Idiom: Rub elbows/shoulders

Sometimes, your kooky boss, who is also a fantastic old hand at the BBQ, may hold an event and offer everyone a great chance to rub shoulders.

We have all heard about the importance of networking, exchanging business cards, etc.


When we network or socialize, we rub elbows/shoulders with people.


Talking and forming relationships with each other at social events such as gallery openings, sporting events and, yes, company BBQs is critical.

Often, people are near one another when they network, and their elbows or shoulders may occasionally touch or rub against each other.

That’s where the idiom comes from.

Quite often in business, it is not what you know but who you know that enables you to get a promotion or make a big sale.


This post is understandable by someone with at least an 8th-grade education (age 13 – 14).  

On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 62.  

The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.