press the flesh

press the flesh {v.}, {slang}

To shake hands with total strangers by the hundreds, keeping an artificial smile all the way, in order to raise one's popularity during political elections.

Incumbent Governor Maxwell was pressing the flesh all day long at six different hotels.

Compare: BABY KISSER.

Categories:

Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

To section: P

Subscribe to: American Idioms

✉

Our RSS-channels

Show All

See as well

flesh

[flesh] See: [IN PERSON] also [IN THE FLESH], [NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL] also [NEITHER FISH], [FLESH, NOR FOWL], [PRESS THE FLESH], [THORN IN THE FLESH]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

flesh out

[flesh out] {v.}, {informal} 1. To add to; make fuller, bigger, or longer. * /The author fleshed out his story by adding more about his war experiences./ 2. also [flesh […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

flesh and blood

[flesh and blood] {n.} 1. A close relative (as a father, daughter, brother); close relatives. Used in the phrase "one's own flesh and blood". * /Such an answer from her […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

pound of flesh

[pound of flesh] {n. phr.}, {literary} The maximum payment authorized by law. * /He had hoped that Peter would be lenient regarding the interest they had agreed on, but Peter […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

Recent updates

висеть на телефоне

[висеть на телефоне] {v. phr.} {informal} [vi`s'et' na t'el'e`fon'e] {literally} to be hanging on the […]

pass the buck

[pass the buck] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make another person decide something or accept a responsibility or give orders […]

potluck

[potluck] See: [TAKE POTLUCK].

Irish toast

May the enemies of Ireland never eat bread nor drink whisky, but be tormented with itching without benefit of scratching.