rub shoulders with (someone)

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 with someone

mainly BRITISH

COMMON If you rub shoulders with someone important or famous, you spend time with them. Johnson had always loved rubbing shoulders with celebrities. Working on a ship can mean seeing the world, rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous and partying every night. Note: You can also say that two groups of people rub shoulders. While there may be fewer poor people, the rich are also more visible, and in the cities the two rub shoulders. Note: The usual American expression is rub elbows with someone.

See also: rub, shoulder, someone

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