shmooze
Work the room
Shmooze, also spelled schmooze, is a verb meaning to chat in a friendly, often ingratiating way, typically to gain favor or make useful connections.
It comes from Yiddish and carries connotations of smooth talk and social maneuvering.
She spent the whole party shmoozing with potential investors.
The noun shmooze refers to such a conversation, and someone skilled at this is a shmoozer.
Informal verbal exchange
- gabLight, meaningless talk
- kibitzGive unsolicited advice
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- small talkPolite trivial conversation
chit-chat · gossip · shoot the breeze · jaw · natter · yak · chinwag · confab
Attractive personal quality
- butter upFlatter insincerely for advantage
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
- cajolePersuade through flattery
- ingratiateSeek another's approval
compliment · flatter · smooth-talk · coax · persuade · brown-nose · winning over · soft soap
Interact socially with others
- cocktail partyDrinks-focused social gathering
- business cardsPrinted contact information handouts
- connectionsRelationships between things
- contactsPeople you know professionally
working the room · glad-handing · mixer · reception · social climbing · dealmaking · power lunch · name-dropping
chat
Informal verbal exchange
small talk · chit-chat · gossip · shoot the breeze · jaw · natter · yak · chinwag · confab · rap
charm
Attractive personal quality
- butter upFlatter insincerely for advantage
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
- cajolePersuade through flattery
ingratiate · compliment · flatter · smooth-talk · coax · persuade · brown-nose · winning over · soft soap · honey-tongued
mingle
Interact socially with others
- cocktail partyDrinks-focused social gathering
- business cardsPrinted contact information handouts
- connectionsRelationships between things
contacts · working the room · glad-handing · mixer · reception · social climbing · dealmaking · power lunch · name-dropping · circulating
shmoozewithdraw
Remove or pull away
keep to oneself · avoid · shun · ignore · rebuff
shmoozespeak plainly
cut to the chase · not mince words · lay it on the line · tell it like it is · call out