strike up
Britishverb
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(of a band, orchestra, etc) to begin to play or sing
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(tr) to bring about; cause to begin
to strike up a friendship
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(tr) to emboss (patterns, etc) on (metal)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Meanwhile, Clark and Floyd strike up a deep friendship, easing their suburban loneliness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh strike up an unlikely Cold War friendship in ‘Mayday,’ an exhibition in Boston focuses on Mary Cassatt, Japanese history meets the supernatural in the new ‘Onimusha’ videogame, and more.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Sabatino wrote that, although he spoke little Spanish and El Chapo barely any English, they were able to strike up a friendship.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
I was always amazed at the ability of my husband’s parents to strike up conversations with total strangers any time in almost any place.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026
“Nice digs,” I said, trying to strike up conversation.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
