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A term meaning to put the past behind you and stay strong; in other words, “that sucks, but we still gotta move on.” Originated in 2022 loosely based on the Rosie the Riveter poster.
Sucks that she dumped you, but elbows up, man.
Elbows Up by LoopyIntoIt November 16, 2023
Words you can keep
"Elbows up" is a hockey reference, meaning to get ready to protect yourself or get involved. Commonly used when you are being targeted by the other team and a coach or teammate is warning you that an attack/fight is imminent.
Elbows up, that defenceman is coming for you.
Elbows Up by Lorica March 3, 2025
To assume a fighting position, be it in hockey or international deplomacy.
Donald Trump wants to annex Canada? Elbows up, boys!
Elbows Up by Canada1867 March 10, 2025
Elbows up is a popular slogan with Canadian communists used to signify that they're pedophiles.
Elbows up let's go hit an elementary school drag show
Elbows up by Marx carney April 21, 2025
The act of moving all your Canadian assets to the USA.
Man 1 - ‘Man, Trumps tariffs are really putting a strain on things, eh?’
Man 2 - ‘If you can’t beat em, join em.’
Man 1 - ‘Elbows up!’
Elbows Up by MCarney May 9, 2025
Mating call used by the retards up north. Used when confronted with criticism about their completely fucked to shit country they voted to keep shitty instead of fixing it.
Retards: Orange man bad! Elbows up! Elbows up!
Elbows up by erm what July 17, 2025

Elbows Up! 

A defensive stance in hockey, taken in response to another player attempting to start a fight on the ice.
The phrase "Elbows up!" enjoyed a spike in popularity in 2025, when it was adopted widely as a Canadian response to foreign bullying. It is a defensive stance, but one which infers standing ones ground.
Elbows Up! by bitchuck June 12, 2025
More from Urban Dictionary
West Midlands slang word for rockers, bikers, greasers etc. In the late 1980s it was used by the UK music press to refer to a specific scene centered around the bands Pop Will Eat Itself and Crazyhead. The term never found favour with readers of 'the inkies' (Sounds, Melody Maker and the still extant NME) and was soon dropped. Now often used in predominantly working-class areas of the midlands and the north to mean someone who listens to rock-derived music and/or dresses in a manner that suggests they affiliate themselves with rock music of some kind.
Some grebo passed with Sabbath playing on his stereo.
The Poppies are at no. 17? God, a grebo band in the charts!
They're playing nu-metal now, bloody grebos!
grebo by cactuscat September 15, 2006
Word of the Day on August 24, 2026
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