Meaning trap
warm up
become friendlier
To start feeling more comfortable and friendly with people, especially after being shy or quiet at first.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To start feeling more comfortable and friendly with people, especially after being shy or quiet at first.
Another meaning of 'warm up' is 'prepare the body'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
It took a while, but she finally warmed up to her new classmates.
When I meet new people, I usually need some time to warm up before I feel comfortable talking.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: He warmed up with us after a while.
Say: He warmed up to us after a while.
'Warm up TO' people (or just 'warm to') — not 'with'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Warm up' is the natural verb for someone relaxing and becoming friendlier.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
warm up + to
- to us
- to the idea
- after a bit
- eventually
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- warm up (prepare the body) — Another meaning of 'warm up' is 'prepare the body'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.