press the flesh
To shake hands and mingle with many people, especially while campaigning for public office

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

press the flesh
[mainly American, humorous]
if politicians or famous people press the flesh, they shake hands with the public.
Even after 12 hours on the campaign trail, he was still meeting his supporters and pressing the flesh.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

press the flesh
(a politician) shakes hands with people in order to become more popular
The politician spent most of the weekend pressing the flesh in the shopping mall.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

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.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲