build a rapport

Meaning

This expression means to develop a close, harmonious, and trusting relationship with someone. It is highly used in professional settings like business, teaching, and healthcare.

Examples

• A good teacher knows how to build a rapport with their students.

  A good teacher knows how to build a rapport with their students.

• It takes time to build a rapport with new clients.

  It takes time to build a rapport with new clients.

• She quickly built a rapport with the team during her first week.

  She quickly built a rapport with the team during her first week.

• Salespeople are trained to build a rapport with potential buyers.

  Salespeople are trained to build a rapport with potential buyers.

• Active listening is key when trying to build a rapport with someone.

  Active listening is key when trying to build a rapport with someone.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He made a good rapport with the manager.

  ✓ He built a good rapport with the manager.

  The verb 'make' does not collocate with 'rapport'. We use 'build', 'develop', or 'establish' a rapport.

• ✗ It is easy to build rapport to her.

  ✓ It is easy to build rapport with her.

  The correct preposition to connect the rapport to a person is 'with', not 'to'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The therapist spent the first session trying to ___ with the patient.

  💡 Develop a trusting relationship.

  Show answer

  build a rapport

• He is excellent at ___ with people from different backgrounds.

  💡 Use the -ing form of the expression.

  Show answer

  building a rapport