warm up

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