elbows up
phraseEtymology From Gordie Howe's prominent use of elbows while fighting in ice hockey. Political usage emerged during the 2025 United States trade war with Canada and Mexico and following Donald Trump's calls to annex Canada to the United States.
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Hobbies, Ice hockey, Lifestyle, Skating, Sports a command to play with physicality in ice hockey, as in the style of Gordie Howe
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Government, Hobbies, Ice hockey, Lifestyle, Politics, Skating, Sports Canada, Broadly, Informal a rallying cry to protect the nation, in reference to the defensive physical posture in ice hockey
- We can't be a punching bag, and we have to get our elbows up.2025 January 29, Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba, speech:
- Elbows up. Elbows up.2025 March 1, Saturday Night Live, season 50, spoken by Mike Myers: