1. room for moving the elbows freely; adequate space for work or operation

1. A lab with plenty of elbow room.

2. With five people in my little car, there won’t be enough elbow room.

3. We were tightly squashed in at dinner, with very little elbow room.

4. It was so tight in that restaurant. There wasn’t any elbow room.

2. freedom to do what you want; free scope

1. At first the management gave the new director plenty of elbow room.

2. We need enough elbow room to try new ideas.