Question

Rub Elbows with Someone to be in the same place with others; to associate with people

Accepted Answer

On her last vacation Samantha went to Hollywood, where she says she rubbed elbows with a lot of stars. In England people say "rub shoulders," but since about the middle 1800s Americans say "rub elbows." No matter, because if you're close enough to anyone so that your elbows or shoulders touch, you're pretty close. People today often brag that they "rubbed elbows" with someone famous.

Idiom	Rub Elbows with Someone
Example	On her last vacation Samantha went to Hollywood, where she says she rubbed elbows with a lot of stars.
Meaning	to be in the same place with others; to associate with people
Origin	In England people say "rub shoulders," but since about the middle 1800s Americans say "rub elbows." No matter, because if you're close enough to anyone so that your elbows or shoulders touch, you're pretty close. People today often brag that they "rubbed elbows" with someone famous.

Elbows People Rub Vacation Samantha Hollywood Rubbed Lot