acquaintance
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have a nodding acquaintance (with someone or something)
To have a slight or precursory knowledge of someone or something. Jim asked me to help fix his computer for him, but I'm afraid I only have a nodding acquaintance with how his machine works. Ruth and I had only a nodding acquaintance before going to the party, but once we got talking, it was like we'd been friends our whole lives.
delighted to make your acquaintance
I'm very happy to meet you. After hearing so many good things about you, I'm delighted to make your acquaintance, Stu.
(I'm) delighted to make your acquaintance.
Fig. I am very glad to meet you. Tom: My name is Tom. I work in the advertising department. Mary: I'm Mary. I work in accounting. Delighted to make your acquaintance. Tom: Yeah. Good to meet you. Fred: Sue, this is Bob. He'll be working with us on the Wilson project. Sue: I'm delighted to make your acquaintance, Bob. Bob: My pleasure.
nodding acquaintance
Superficial knowledge of someone or something, as in I have a nodding acquaintance with the company president, or She has a nodding acquaintance with that software program. This expression alludes to knowing someone just well enough to nod or bow upon meeting him or her. "Early 1800s]
See also: acquaintance, nod
scrape up an acquaintance
Make an effort to become familiar with someone, especially for one's own benefit. For example, He scraped up an acquaintance with the college president in hopes of getting his son admitted . This term uses scrape in the sense of "gather with difficulty" (also see under scare up). Originally put as scrape acquaintance, it was first recorded in 1600.
a passing acquaintance with someone
If you have a passing acquaintance with someone, you know them slightly. To those with only a passing acquaintance he is charming and engaging. Note: You can also say that you have a nodding acquaintance with someone. And of course, he can now claim — after his first summit as head of government — more than a nodding acquaintance with his fellow leaders. Note: You can call a person a passing acquaintance or a nodding acquaintance if you know them slightly. He was no more than a passing acquaintance of Wright.
See also: acquaintance, passing
a passing acquaintance with something
If you have a passing acquaintance with something, you only know a little about it. These days a theatre-goer needs more than a passing acquaintance with science. Note: You can also say that you have a nodding acquaintance with something. We chatted for a little about poetry, with which he showed considerably more than a nodding acquaintance.
have a nodding acquaintance with someone or something
know someone slightly; know a little about something. 1989 Donnie Radcliffe Simply Barbara Bush Their families had lived less than ten miles apart as they were growing up, and their fathers almost certainly had a nodding acquaintance on the golf course.
scrape acquaintance with
contrive to get to know. dated 1992 Atlantic I thought how lucky the Crimms were to have scraped acquaintance with me, for I seldom reveal my identity to ordinary people on my jaunts around the world.
See also: acquaintance, scrape
make somebody’s acquaintance
,make the acquaintance of somebody
(formal) meet somebody for the first time: I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Mrs Baker. ♢ I made the acquaintance of several musicians at that time.See also: acquaintance, make
have a nodding acˈquaintance with somebody/something
know somebody slightly/know a little about something: I have a nodding acquaintance with some members of the committee. ♢ You need at least a nodding acquaintance with the rules of chess to understand the book.scrape (up) an acˈquaintance with somebody
(informal) try to become friends with somebody because they might be useful to youmake (someone's) acquaintance
To meet someone for the first time: I made his acquaintance at a business conference.
See also: acquaintance, make