Collocations for "elbow"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "elbow" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
elbow
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- [bent, flexed, straightened] her elbow
- [scratched, scraped, cut] his elbow
- [scratched] her elbow when she fell
- rubbed the [bite, scrape] on his elbow
- hit my elbow on the [chair, bed leg, shelf]
- got an elbow to the [stomach, ribs, back]
- gave him an elbow to the [stomach]
- [grabbed, led] her by the elbow
- thumped his elbow down on the table
- nudged her [friend, coworker, classmate] with her elbow
- nudged her awake with his elbow
- needs [surgery, an operation] on his elbow
- her elbow needs [surgery]
- has his elbow in [plaster, a cast, bandages]
- protect your elbow [with, by wearing] pads
- just [above, below] the elbow
- the sleeves [reach, stop] just before the elbow
- idiom: was rubbing elbows with [royalty, the stars, celebrities]
- slang: I'm up to my elbows with [work, emails]
- elbowed him in the [face, chest, ribs]
- elbowed her out the [way, door, line]
- elbowed [her, his friend, the thief, a player] (in)
- elbowed him [hard, sharply, lightly]
- elbowed (his way) through the [crowd, room, people]
- elbow (your way) up to the [front, counter, desk]
- elbow (your way) into the [line, room, door]
- [jostling, shoving, pushing] and elbowing
- need to [use, put in] more elbow grease
- [it] just needs a little elbow grease
- requires a lot of elbow grease
- do you have enough elbow room?
- a [fractured, broken] elbow joint
- wear elbow pads when [skating, playing, cycling]
- elbow macaroni
'elbow' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
bang
- bloody
- brush
- clasp
- clutch
- crack
- cradle
- crook
- drag
- dried
- flex
- grasp
- gravel
- graze
- grease
- hinge
- injure
- jog
- joint
- knock
- mark
- nudge
- pad
- pat
- pavement
- power
- prop
- ram
- scar
- scrape
- scratch
- skin
- sling
- smack
- smart
- stab
- swift
- tennis
- whack
- wring