press the flesh
Work the room
Press the flesh is to shake hands and mingle, especially as a politician working a crowd.
The phrase captures the physical reality of retail politics—actually touching voters: The candidate spent the afternoon pressing the flesh at the state fair.
It can apply to any situation requiring glad-handing and personal contact.
- shake handsMutual palm-grip greeting
- firm handshakeTight palm-to-palm greeting
- handshakeMutual palm-gripping gesture
- grip and grinFormulaic photo with prize
- greetAcknowledge upon meeting
mingle · work the room · hobnob · canvassing · schmooze · rally · introduce · electioneering · retail politics · stump speech · glad-handing · baby kissing · socialize · photo op · rope line · grassroots organizing · town hall meeting · meet
press the fleshkeep one's distance
Remain apart from others
stay away · keep at arm's length · social distancing · steer clear · recoil
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