🤝 To Rub Elbows: The Art of Unexpected Associations 🌍
To “rub elbows with” that venerable phrase indicating an unexpected or close association—particularly with individuals who might be a bit more highfalutin than we usually hobnob with. The Brits often opt for “rub shoulders with,” which maintains a tad more decorum. For instance, William Makepeace Thackeray in his whimsical Book of Snobs remarked, “She had rubbed shoulders with the great.”
However, in true American spirit, if you fancy something with a bit more elbow grease, Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle paints an even livelier tableau: “Young white girls from the country rubbing elbows with big buck Negroes with daggers in their boots.”
Related Terms
- Hobnob with: To socialise with someone, especially someone of higher social status.
- Mingle with: To move freely around a place or at a social function, associating with others.
- Brush shoulders with: (Same as the British version of rubbing elbows). To mix with, or associate socially with.
Synonyms
- Associate with
- Socialize with
- Mix with
Antonyms
- Avoid
- Shun
- Steer clear of
Humor-Filled Quotes
“I rubbed elbows with greatness today… Does that mean I can tell everyone I’m great now?” – Anon
“Be careful while you rub elbows, sometimes they’re pointy.” – The Elbowing Philosopher
Proverbs
- “Tell me whom you walk with and I’ll tell you who you are.”
- “Birds of a feather flock together.”
Literature Reference:
- Book of Snobs by William Makepeace Thackeray (1848)
- The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (1906)
Movie Suggestion:
- Forrest Gump (1994) – Forrest certainly finds himself rubbing elbows with all sorts of notable figures!
Song Suggestion:
- “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel – A melody where rubbing elbows with historical figures is the order of the lyrical day.
Poetry Suggestion:
- Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe – Interesting to imagine if he had rubbed elbows with those from the sea.
[As imagined and created by P. I. Wordsworth, tending to those rubbing their elbows’ corners]
“It is one thing to rub elbows with greatness; it is another to maintain the poise and humility while doing so.”
Inspirational Conclusion: Remember, life’s true richness sprouts from the chance encounters and unexpected associations that challenge our comfort zones. So, continue rubbing elbows with variety, for it’s within diversity that we find the essence of growth.
— P. I. Wordsworth, 2023, thinking intensely about whose elbow you might be rubbing next.
