chum up
(idiomatic, informal) To be friendly toward (with or to) someone, especially in an ingratiating way; to form a friendship (with).
Definitions
(idiomatic, informal) To be friendly toward (with or to) someone, especially in an ingratiating way; to form a friendship (with).
I chummed up with a few of my new work colleagues.
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(obsolete, UK, prison slang, transitive) To initiate (a new prisoner) through a ritual involving beating him with sticks and swords, accompanied by music, to extort money from him.
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Show 1 more dictionary-style sense (imported)
To apply chum to water as bait.
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Semantically related
- 73%
(intransitive, slang, dated) To live with someone as chums; to bunk up or join up with someone as chums.
- 73%
(UK, informal, mostly as a term of address) chum; friend.
- 69%
A warm, slightly old-fashioned English word meaning friendly and closely acquainted — the kind of matey, comfortable closeness between people who know each other well. If two people are being chummy, they're bonding, laughing together, and acting like old pals. It can be used approvingly ('they've become quite chummy') or with a mild edge of suspicion ('they're very chummy all of a sudden'). The word has a cosy, slightly round quality to it — nobody says 'chummy' while being serious, and that's sort of the point.