rub elbows

訃報の記事です。


CINCINNATI – William J. Keating, a political, business and civic leader who rubbed elbows with everyone from presidents to the everyday people of his community, died Wednesday,it was confirmed to The Enquirer. He was 93.

Any part of Keating’s career would have constituted a life lived in full by itself. Taken together, they represent an extraordinary legacy in the fields of law, politics and business.

"I lost a great friend," longtime law partner Don Klekamp said Wednesday night. "Bill was kind to everybody. He was admired and loved by all. What an example he's been."
(Bill Keating, former congressman and Gannett executive, dies at age 93. USA Today. May 20, 2020.)


亡くなった方のことは存じ上げませんが、実業界、政界の両方で名を馳せた人のようです。

お人柄は尊敬に値するものだったのでしょう、


a political, business and civic leader who rubbed elbows with everyone from presidents to the everyday people of his community


という表現にそれが感じられます。

今日取り上げる表現は、"rub elbows"というものですが、文字通り訳すならば、肘を擦る、となります。"touch elbows"と表現することもあるようです。

"rub elbows with~"は、with以下の人と、親しく付き合う、交際する、という意味です。

日本語で、袖振り合うも他生の縁、という表現を思い起こしました。

袖は”sleeve”で手首の部分なので、”elbow”とは離れていますけれども。