Shake hands and kiss babies is a popular idiom that refers to politicians or public figures who enthusiastically greet and interact with the public to gain support and win over voters. There are many synonyms for this phrase such as pressing the flesh, glad-handing, rubbing elbows, playing to the crowd, baby-kissing, canvassing, and stump speech. These idiomatic expressions reflect the importance of engagement, communication, and personal connections in politics and leadership, as well as the need to appeal to the emotions, values, and interests of the electorate. Overall, shake hands and kiss babies symbolize the art of persuasion, charisma, and public relations in contemporary politics and society.