strike up a friendship

Meaning

This expression means to start or establish a friendship with someone, often unexpectedly or in a casual setting. It implies starting a conversation that naturally leads to becoming friends. It is commonly used in both spoken and written English when describing how people met.

Examples

• I managed to strike up a friendship with a guy I met on the train.

  I managed to strike up a friendship with a guy I met on the train.

• They struck up a friendship while waiting in line at the coffee shop.

  They struck up a friendship while waiting in line at the coffee shop.

• It is surprisingly easy to strike up a friendship when you are traveling alone.

  It is surprisingly easy to strike up a friendship when you are traveling alone.

• She hopes to strike up a friendship with her new neighbors soon.

  She hopes to strike up a friendship with her new neighbors soon.

• We struck up a friendship over our shared love for indie music.

  We struck up a friendship over our shared love for indie music.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to strike a friendship with her.

  ✓ I want to strike up a friendship with her.

  The phrasal verb requires 'up'. Without 'up', the expression is incomplete and incorrect.

• ✗ We struck up friendship last week.

  ✓ We struck up a friendship last week.

  You must include the indefinite article 'a' before 'friendship' in this idiom.

Related Expressions

Practice

• It didn't take long for them to ___ with each other at the summer camp.

  💡 To start being friends with someone.

  Show answer

  strike up a friendship

• I always try to ___ when I join a new club.

  💡 Establish a new friendly relationship.

  Show answer

  strike up a friendship