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warm up

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warm someone or something up

to make someone or something warmer; to take the chill off someone or something. I put him by the fire to warm him up a little. We warmed up our feet before the fire. Could you warm up my coffee, please?

See also: up, warm

warm someone up

 

1. to make someone warmer. Stand by the fire and warm yourself up. Warm up the kids and then give them some cookies.

2. Fig. to help someone get physically prepared to perform in an athletic event. (As if exercising or loosening up someone's muscles.) The referee told the coach to warm his team up so the game could begin. You have to warm up the team before a game. Be sure to warm yourself up before playing.

3. Fig. to prepare an audience for another—more famous—performer. (Fig. on {2}.) A singer came out to warm us up for the main attraction. This comedian is a superb choice to warm up the audience.

See also: up, warm

warm up

 

1. [for the weather or a person] to become warmer or hotter. I think it is going to warm up next week.

2. Fig.[for someone] to become more friendly. (A warm person is a friendly person.) Todd began to warm up halfway through the conference. After he had worked therefor a while, he began to warm up.

3. and warm up for something Fig. to prepare for some kind of performance or competition. The team had to warm up before the game. They have to warm up.

See also: up, warm

warm somebody up

also warm up somebody

to cause someone to become more relaxed and friendly It is a good idea to warm up an audience with a few amusing stories before talking about serious things. Do you think meditation might help warm him up before he gets out there to speak?

See also: up, warm

warm up (something)

also warm something up

to briefly exercise as preparation for something She warms her voice up before a concert by singing scales and making funny noises. He always warmed up for about 15 minutes before his morning run.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of warm something up (to cause the temperature of something to increase)

See also: up, warm

warm up

1. Prepare for exercise or an athletic event by stretching or practicing beforehand, as in It's important to warm up before you play any sport. The idiom is also applied to musicians getting ready to perform. [Late 1800s]

2. Make enthusiastic, excited, or animated, as in He was good at warming up an audience for the main speaker. [Mid-1800s]

3. Also, warm up to. Become friendlier or more receptive toward, as in I had a hard time warming up to my mother-in-law. [Early 1800s]

4. Reach a temperature high enough to work efficiently, as in I'll go out and warm up the car. [Mid-1900s]

5. Reheat food, as in If we warm up the leftovers, we'll have enough for everyone. [Mid-1800s]

6. Approach a state of violence or confrontation, as in Racial tension was rapidly warming up. Also see heat up.

See also: up, warm

warm up

v.

1. To reach a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat; warm completely: I finally warmed up by sitting next to the fire.

2. To bring something or someone to a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat; warm something or someone completely: The furnace warmed up the house. The fire warmed me up.

3. To reheat some food: Can I warm up your coffee for you? I'll just warm these leftovers up when I get home.

4. To prepare for an athletic event by exercising, stretching, or practicing for a short time beforehand: We warmed up for 15 minutes before starting the match. We warmed up with a few short rallies.

5. To make someone or something ready for an event or operation: I'll go out and warm up the car so that it won't stall. The conductor warmed the orchestra up before the concert.

6. To become ready for an event or operation: How long does it take the printer to warm up? The musicians warmed up before the concert.

7. To become enthusiastic, excited, or lively: The bar doesn't warm up until about 11:00. I warmed up to the subject after I switched teachers.

8. To make someone or something enthusiastic, excited, or lively: The emcee warmed up the crowd before the band came out. It took a bit of persuading, but we finally warmed them up to the idea.

9. To become kindly disposed or friendly: The group warmed up once the business was out of the way. I didn't warm up to them until we had gone out a few times.

10. To fill someone with pleasant emotions: It warms me up to know that you are on my side.

See also: up, warm