schmoozes
Chats people up
Schmoozes is the verb form of schmooze, meaning to chat in a friendly, ingratiating way, especially to gain favor or make connections.
The word comes from Yiddish and carries a sense of calculated sociability: She schmoozes with executives at every company event.
Someone who schmoozes works the room, building relationships through casual conversation that serves an agenda.
Casual social interaction
- connectionsRelationships between things
- contactsPeople you know professionally
- introductionsInitial formal presentations
- handshakesMutual palm grips
business cards · referrals · conferences · cocktail hour · receptions · mixers · meet-and-greet · working the room
Informal light conversation
- small talkPolite trivial conversation
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- gabbingTalking at length casually
chatting · mingling · hobnobbing · fraternizing · making the rounds · working the crowd · cocktail chatter · pleasantries
Advocating to decision-makers
- influencingAltering someone's thinking
- pitchingDelivering toward the plate
- sellingTrading for payment
- negotiatingDiscussing to reach agreement
wooing · courting · advocating · angling · maneuvering · politicking · arm-twisting · back-channeling
Charmingly persuasive in speech
- buttering upExcessive flattery for advantage
- sweet-talkingPersuading through flattery
- ingratiatingSeeking favor through flattery
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
complimenting · charming · wheedling · cajolery · apple-polishing · brown-nosing · sucking up · flattering
mingling
Casual social interaction
- connectionsRelationships between things
- contactsPeople you know professionally
- introductionsInitial formal presentations
handshakes · business cards · referrals · conferences · cocktail hour · receptions · mixers · meet-and-greet · working the room · glad-handing
chitchat
Informal light conversation
- small talkPolite trivial conversation
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
gabbing · chatting · mingling · hobnobbing · fraternizing · making the rounds · working the crowd · cocktail chatter · pleasantries · icebreakers
lobbying
Advocating to decision-makers
- influencingAltering someone's thinking
- pitchingDelivering toward the plate
- sellingTrading for payment
negotiating · wooing · courting · advocating · angling · maneuvering · politicking · arm-twisting · back-channeling · horse-trading
smooth-talking
Charmingly persuasive in speech
- buttering upExcessive flattery for advantage
- sweet-talkingPersuading through flattery
- ingratiatingSeeking favor through flattery
fawning · complimenting · charming · wheedling · cajolery · apple-polishing · brown-nosing · sucking up · flattering · winning over
- socializingmingle, mingles, mingling, party, parties
- discussionsdiscussion, discussions, forum, talks, roundtable