What does elbowing mean?
"Elbowing" is both a noun and the present participle of the verb "to elbow," denoting the act of pushing someone with the elbows — most commonly to jostle through a dense crowd or to shove past rivals. Its figurative sense is especially productive: politicians, companies, and athletes are frequently described as elbowing their way into power, into markets, or into contention, giving the word a connotation of aggressive, sometimes unscrupulous self-advancement. The image is vivid and slightly combative, which makes the term a favorite in sports commentary, political reporting, and business journalism. Derived from "elbow" — itself from Old English "elnboga," combining "ell" (a measure of length based on the forearm) and "boga" (bow), reflecting the arm's bend — the word has been part of English for centuries and remains current on both sides of the Atlantic.
The action of pushing or shoving someone with the elbows, or figuratively, forceful self-advancement.
"His constant elbowing at meetings earned him few friends among his colleagues."
Frequently used with prepositions such as "through," "aside," or "for."
Present participle of "elbow": to push or force one's way using the elbows.
"They were elbowing past each other to reach the buffet first."
English speakers have been 'elbowing' their way forward since before the 17th century — a word born from the body part whose name literally means 'arm-bow,' because your arm bends like an archer's bow.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of elbowing
Elbowing derives from the verb "elbow," formed from the noun "elbow," which comes from Old English "elnboga" — a compound of "ell" (the forearm, also a unit of measure roughly equal to that length) and "boga" (bow), describing the arm's bent shape. The verb meaning "to push with the elbows" arose in English around the late sixteenth century, and its figurative use for aggressive self-advancement followed soon after. The element "boga" is cognate with modern "bow" and with related Germanic forms, tying the word to a family of terms for bending.
Related word forms
How elbowing is actually used
Often used figuratively in journalism and business writing, where it carries a mildly negative connotation of pushiness or unfair competition. The literal sense is common in descriptions of crowds.
Easily confused with elbowing
"Elbow" is primarily the joint between the upper arm and forearm (or the verb meaning to push with it), while "elbowing" is the act or process of such pushing.