Strike up has three senses, but also one. As well? We explain: strike up means “start” in general, but it is used in three specific contexts: “start” a friendship, “start” a conversation and “start” playing a song.
Given that strike means “to hit”, “to hit”, “to strike”, how did the phrasal verb acquire this meaning?
I know about it as much as you do, but my theory goes like this: strike originally meant “rubbing”. Hence we have the expression strike a match , “lighting a match”. Well, from that image of the match being lit came the idea of a beginning – beginning of the fire, beginning of friendship … It is a theory, but it makes sense. And remember, giving context to the expressions you learn, either through etymology, or through a repetition of phrases in Anki is what helps indelibly record idioms.
Indelibly … this I took from the bottom of my linguistic arsenal. With strong associations, even the least used words are still at hand when we need them!
Let’s look at the usual examples so you can review with context. Note the irregular strike past .
1 – Strike up in the sense of “starting”, “starting” or “starting” conversation.
He struck up a conversation with her in the lobby.
He started a conversation with her in the lobby.
Anna had struck up a conversation with a girl at the pool.
Anna had engaged in conversation with a girl by the pool.
Strike up a conversation with the person next to you at a local gathering.
Start a conversation with the person next to you at a local meeting.
It can be difficult to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger.
It can be difficult to start a conversation with a total stranger.
You could always strike up a conversation with someone on the mall bench next to you.
You can always start a conversation with someone at the mall bank next to you.
Strike up a conversation if necessary and look very interested in their ideas.
Start a conversation, if necessary, and appear very interested in their ideas.
2 – Strike up , “start / start”, “do”, “establish” friendship.
While waiting at a gas station Simon and Mack strike up a friendship.
While waiting at a gas station, Simon and Mack start a friendship.
They were boisterous but friendly, delighting in striking up friendships with the locals.
They were loud but friendly, taking pleasure in making friends with the locals.
He gets really jealous if his girlfriend strikes up a friendship with another man.
He gets extremely jealous if his girlfriend establishes friendship with another man.
We struck up an instant rapport and I speak to him regularly.
We establish an instant connection and I speak to him regularly.
The bartender seemed to have already struck up a friendship with Jane.
The bartender seemed to have already established a friendship with Jane.
3 – Strike up to “start playing”.
The band struck up a favorite tune of mine from the latter album.
The band started playing a favorite song of mine from the most recent album.
When the applause had died down, a band struck up the national anthem.
When the applause had died, the band started playing the national anthem.
We could hear the band striking up the bridal march.
We could hear the band starting to play the wedding march.
The musicians struck up and people began to dance.
Musicians started playing and people started dancing .
Another phrasal verb for your collection, which must already be huge. So, did you like today’s post ? Suggestions or questions – feel free to communicate them below.
