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Phrase(s): 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 W.) • A singer came out to warm us up for the main attraction. • This comedian is a superb choice to warm up the audience., Phrase(s): 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 there for 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., Phrase(s): 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?
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
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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.
American Heritage Idioms