tap up
To secretly ask a player from another football team if they want to come and play for your team — which is against the rules.
Meanings
(British football) To make an illegal approach to a contracted player in order to persuade them to move to a different club.
"The Premier League club was fined for tapping up the midfielder while he was still under contract."
(Informal, extended) To approach someone unofficially asking for money, a favour, or participation in something.
"He tapped up all his friends for donations to the charity run."
Primarily British English, strongly associated with football (soccer). Constitutes a breach of football regulations. Used by sports journalists and fans. Can also be used informally in other contexts to mean approaching someone for a favour or unofficial deal.
Commonly used with
Forms
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