elbow bump

Definitions

1. A hit to the elbow; also, an injury to the elbow caused by such a hit.
2. A hit or jab made with the elbow.
3. The touching of elbows between two people, sometimes as an alternative to a handshake, fist bump, or other form of contact when attempting to avoid the spread of germs.

Equivalents

Examples

“To the pantheon of social arbiters who came up with the firm handshake, the formal bow and the air kiss, get⟳ ready to add⟳ a new fashion god: the World Health Organization, chief advocate of the "elbow bump." […] The bump, a simple touching of elbows, is a substitute for the filthy practice of shaking hands, in which a person who has politely sneezed into a palm then passes a virus to other hands, whose owners then put⟳ a finger in an eye or a pen in a mouth.”

“Instead of handshakes or high-fives, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams introduced the elbow bump at a news conference in Connecticut as a possible alternative to avoid⟳ the coronavirus. He showed reporters how it was done by demonstrating the elbow bump with Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Gov. Ned Lamont.”

“When greeting people, best to avoid⟳ elbow bumps because they put⟳ you within 1 meter of the other person. I like⟳ to put⟳ my hand on my heart when I greet⟳ people these days.”

CEFR level