1 B1 neutral
(Of a band, orchestra, or musician) To begin playing a piece of music.
"As the bride entered the room, the orchestra struck up the wedding march."
separable
strike up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To begin playing music, or to suddenly start a conversation, friendship, or relationship.
In plain English
To suddenly start playing music, or to start talking to someone and begin a friendship.
What does "strike up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To begin a conversation, friendship, or relationship, often spontaneously.
"She struck up a conversation with the man sitting next to her on the train."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To strike (play) upward — 'up' suggests starting from zero and initiating.
Actually means
To suddenly start playing music, or to start talking to someone and begin a friendship.
Usage tip
Extremely common in two contexts: music ('the band struck up a tune') and social connections ('strike up a conversation/friendship'). The musical sense implies a sudden, energetic beginning.
Words that pair with "strike up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
conversation friendship band tune relationship acquaintance alliance
How to conjugate "strike up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
strike up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
strikes up
he/she/it
Past simple
striked up
yesterday
Past participle
striked up
have + pp
-ing form
striking up
continuous
Hear "strike up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "strike up"
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