Strike up means to begin a conversation or relationship. It often suggests that someone made the first social move.
You can strike up a conversation during a break or before a meeting. The setting may be planned even when the conversation is not.
The phrase marks the beginning. It does not tell you whether the connection went well.
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"He struck up a conversation with the keynote speaker during the coffee break, and they ended up comparing notes on the same vendor migration." The conversation began through a social opening.
"The new account manager makes a point of striking up conversations with every client contact before the first call, not just the decision-maker." Here, the phrase again marks a social beginning.
The phrase is common in neutral and informal English. Natural objects include conversation, chat, and friendship. You may also hear strike up a relationship or partnership. For formal processes, another verb is usually clearer. You start a meeting, enter into a contract, and file a lawsuit.
Two other senses worth recognizing
Two other senses are worth knowing. In the musical sense, "the orchestra struck up a triumphant march as the award winner approached the stage" means the orchestra began to play. This use is still natural when the setting fits.
You may also read "they struck up a correspondence that lasted for years." This means they began writing to each other. It sounds more literary than started exchanging messages.
Practice scenarios
Practice using strike up in situations like:
- explaining how a conversation with a stranger at an event actually began
- narrating how a friendship or working relationship started with a new colleague
- describing how a partnership between two companies first came together
- recognizing the musical or correspondence sense of strike up in something you read
Useful practice phrases:
- "I struck up a conversation with..."
- "She struck up a friendship with..."
- "The two companies struck up a partnership after..."
- "...struck up a conversation, not a formal introduction."
Strike up focuses on how a conversation or relationship begins.
Use a more exact verb for formal procedures.
Lyra Practice helps advanced non-native English professionals learn the nuance of high-value workplace expressions and practice using them in realistic scenarios, so their English sounds natural, precise, and senior at work. Try Lyra Practice.