strike up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral to informal
Quick answer
What does “strike up” mean?
To begin or start something, especially a conversation, friendship, or musical performance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To begin or start something, especially a conversation, friendship, or musical performance.
Can refer to initiating any activity or relationship in a casual or spontaneous manner.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal; usage is nearly identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly informal tone in both UK and US English.
Frequency
Equally common in everyday speech in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “strike up” in a Sentence
transitive with direct object (e.g., strike up a conversation)often followed by 'with' to indicate the other party (e.g., strike up a conversation with someone)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “strike up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They struck up a chat over tea.
- He struck up a tune on the piano at the pub.
American English
- They struck up a chat over coffee.
- He struck up a song on the guitar at the bar.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe starting negotiations or business relationships.
Academic
Rarely used; more formal terms like 'initiate' are preferred.
Everyday
Common for casual beginnings like conversations or friendships.
Technical
In musical contexts, to begin playing an instrument or tune.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “strike up”
- Using 'strike up' without an object (e.g., 'He struck up' is incomplete).
- Overusing in formal contexts where 'initiate' or 'commence' might be more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral to informal, commonly used in everyday speech rather than formal writing.
No, it is a transitive phrasal verb and requires an object, such as 'a conversation' or 'a friendship'.
The strongest collocations include 'strike up a conversation', 'strike up a friendship', and 'strike up the band'.
'Strike up' often implies a more spontaneous or casual beginning, particularly for social interactions or musical performances, whereas 'start' and 'begin' are more general.
To begin or start something, especially a conversation, friendship, or musical performance.
Strike up: in British English it is pronounced /straɪk ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /straɪk ʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “strike up a conversation”
- “strike up the band”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine striking a match to light it; similarly, strike up means to start something actively, like igniting a conversation.
Conceptual Metaphor
BEGINNING IS IGNITING A FIRE or STARTING IS STRIKING A MATCH
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common meaning of 'strike up'?