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strike up

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phrasal verb
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present tense
I/you/we/theystrike up
he/she/itstrikes up
present participlestriking up
past tensestruck up
past participlestruck up
  1. 1
    [intransitive/transitive] to start to play or sing a piece of music

    We could hear the band striking up the bridal march.

    The musicians struck up and people began to dance.

    strike up with:

    They struck up with Happy Birthday to You.

    strike up the band (=begin playing music):

    The announcer called out, 'Strike up the band!'

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of strike up
    1. a.
      [intransitive] if a piece of music strikes up, someone starts playing it
      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of strike up
  2. 2
    strike up a friendship/conversation etc (with someone) to start something such as a relationship or conversation with someone in an informal way

    The barman seemed to have already struck up a friendship with Jane.

    Anna had struck up a conversation with a girl at the pool.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of strike up

This is the British English definition of strike up. View American English definition of strike up.

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View the pronunciation for strike up.

 
See also main entry: strike

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a percussion instrument used by football fans which makes a rattling sound when shaken

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