A familiar Canadian phrase has earned a formal place in the Oxford English Dictionary.
Oxford University Press added “elbows up” to the dictionary on Tuesday as part of its June 2026 new word entries.
Per the dictionary, the phrase shows “willingness to (aggressively) defend oneself or fight back” and is used “frequently as a modifier.”
For Canadians, the expression carries a familiar hockey feel. It is usually associated with Gordie Howe, the Canadian ice hockey legend known for his physical style of play, including using his elbows to fend off opponents.
The dictionary traces the phrase back to the 1980s. Its earliest listed evidence comes from a 1985 article in The Sunday Star in Toronto, which described a political fight over delegates as an “elbows up” affair.
The phrase has taken on fresh meaning in Canada during recent trade tensions with the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and threat to make Canada the 51st American state renergised national pride and fuelled support for buying Canadian.
The OED entry also notes an earlier related use from 1972 in the Montreal Gazette, where young people were urged to “get their elbows up” and lobby for election to boards.
Other new additions with Canadian connections include “cashspiel,” from curling meaning a tournament held for cash prizes; “kokum,” used chiefly in Cree contexts for a grandmother or elderly woman; and “point form,” meaning information presented in concise list-style statements.