buddy up
B1 informal intransitive
In simple words
To get together with one other person and be their partner — for safety, a task, or just to be friends.
Literal meaning: To link up with a buddy (a close friend or partner).
Meanings
1 A2 informal
To pair with another person, often for safety or a supervised activity.
"The swimming instructor told the children to buddy up before entering the water."
2 B1
idiomatic
informal
To form a friendly alliance or partnership with someone, sometimes for mutual benefit.
"The two rival companies decided to buddy up and develop the new software together."
Usage notes
Commonly used in school, camp, and outdoor activity contexts ('buddy up with someone'). Also used to describe forming a friendly alliance with someone for mutual benefit.
Commonly used with
partner friend classmate safety stranger task
Forms
Base
buddy up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
buddies up
he/she/it
Past simple
buddied up
yesterday
Past participle
buddied up
have + pp
-ing form
buddying up
continuous
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Synonyms
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