To press the flesh 意為「(政客、名流) 與許多人握手」。政治人物為了與選民近身接觸以示親民，經常混在人群中跟許多人握手。名流有時為了展現平易近人、不擺架子的作風，亦會與粉絲大握其手。握手 (handshake or shaking hand) 可追溯到古希臘，剛開始可能是一種向對方保證「我沒帶武器」的方式，後來演變成象徵友誼和信任。司馬昭之心路人皆知，政治人物一有機會就跟選民握手，目的當然是為了選票。注意：Press the flesh 不加連字號，除非放在名詞前面當形容詞用，如 press-the-flesh politics (握手政治)。
例句：
- Apparently he was off pressing the flesh at some luncheon, and that was a lot more important than seeing us. (顯然地，他是去某個午餐會和人握手，這比見我們來得重要多了)
- Politicians have to get out and about and press the flesh. (政治人物必須到處走動和民眾握手)
- He believes he should get out and press the flesh if his campaign is going to succeed. (他認為，如果他的選戰要成功，他應該走出去和許多人握手)
- Even after 12 hours on the campaign trail, he was still meeting his supporters and pressing the flesh. (即使在 12 個小時的競選活動之後，他仍與支持者見面並和他們握手)
- The politician wanted to press the flesh, but I refused even to touch him. (那位政治人物想要握手，但我拒絕了，甚至不想碰觸他)