sharpenyour elbows
He styled himself as the president's sharp-elbowed enforcer.
The party is keen to prevent the sharp-elbowed middle classes from abandoning state schools.
The movie is a fun, engaging take on the sharp-elbowed fashion industry.
A staff room in which the emphasis is on support and partnership is far better than a sharp-elbowed me-first competitive working environment.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Competing and contending (non-sporting)
as a dare
be one up on someoneidiom
cat
catchup
challenge someone to something/do something
dare
get one up on someoneidiom
give someone/something a run for their moneyidiom
go in for something
go toe to toeidiom
hyper-competitive
jungle
pit
runners and ridersidiom
sharp elbowsidiom
sharpen (something) up
sharpen your elbowsidiom
showing
snap
toe

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Strong-willed