rib the elbow / talk shop

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough explain to me the idiosyncrasies of the following idioms:

rub the elbow (idiom) = associate together, commune, mingle with , interact, mix with, socialize, chum around, consort, knock around with, pal around.

rub elbows with someone

to meet or be with someone socially. As

Ms Quasebarth's personal assistant,

Celia has rubbed elbows with singers and DJ's and even presidents.

Also, rub shoulders with. Mix or socialize with, as in

There's nothing like rubbing elbows with the rich and famous, or

At the reception diplomats were rubbing shoulders with heads of state.

Both of these terms allude to being in close contact with someone.

talk shop (idiom)

Converse about one's business or profession, as in

Whenever John and his dad get together, they talk shop.

Thank you in advance for your efforts.

Regards.

V.

[susiedqq]

You have all the information you need.

"rub elbows with" means to socialize with.

He rubbed elbows with all the famous politicians.


"talk shop" means to talk about your work.

The doctors talked shop at the party.

[vil]

Hi sussiedqq,

Thank you for your reply.

Sorry, I don’t know what to make of all this. It is not too much trouble to understand the meaning of the mentioned above idioms but I couldn’t realize the necessity of their usage. I like to call things by their proper name. For me a spade is always a spade. Only in the Bible God transfoms a stick in a snake. For example, what have you to gain by using the idiom “pull my leg” instead of using the plain verbs “tease” or “play a joke on”?

Regards.

V.

[susiedqq]

You don't have to "use" these idioms or expressions, but it's a good idea to know what they mean.

Knowledge is power and wisdom.