strike up

Meaning

This phrasal verb is most commonly used in the collocation 'strike up a conversation' or 'strike up a friendship'. It means to start or initiate a conversation, relationship, or acquaintance, usually with someone you do not know well. The tone is warm, social, and neutral.

Examples

• It's easy for her to strike up a conversation with complete strangers.

  It's easy for her to strike up a conversation with complete strangers.

• They struck up a close friendship while working on the same project.

  They struck up a close friendship while working on the same project.

• I managed to strike up a chat with the person sitting next to me on the plane.

  I managed to strike up a chat with the person sitting next to me on the plane.

• He is too shy to strike up an acquaintance with his neighbors.

  He is too shy to strike up an acquaintance with his neighbors.

• We struck up a conversation about music while waiting in line.

  We struck up a conversation about music while waiting in line.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to strike up with him.

  ✓ I want to strike up a conversation with him.

  'Strike up' is transitive and requires a direct object like 'conversation', 'friendship', or 'relationship'. It cannot be used alone with a person.

• ✗ They struck up a discussion about the budget.

  ✓ They started a discussion about the budget.

  'Strike up' is generally used for initiating social connections (conversations, friendships), not formal business discussions or arguments.

Related Expressions

Practice

• She managed to ___ a conversation with the host of the party.

  💡 Start or initiate.

  Show answer

  strike up

• They ___ a lifelong friendship during their first year of college.

  💡 Initiated or formed (past tense).

  Show answer

  struck up