How do you use "Chat up" in a sentence?

He tried to chat me up. That chat-up line was terrible. She's being chatted up by that guy.

Chat up

Q: What does "Chat up" mean?

Flirt with, try to attract through conversation (British). To 'chat someone up' is to flirt with them, usually through conversation aimed at romantic interest. A 'chat-up line' is a prepared flirtatious opening. 'He was chatting her up all night' suggests persistent flirting.

Slang Term BritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Casual

Meaning: Flirt with, try to attract through conversation (British).

搭讪，用聊天吸引异性（英式英语）。

Coquetear, intentar atraer mediante la conversación (inglés británico).

口説く、会話で惹きつけようとする（イギリス英語）。

작업을 걸다, 추파를 던지다 (영국식)

To 'chat someone up' is to flirt with them, usually through conversation aimed at romantic interest. A 'chat-up line' is a prepared flirtatious opening. 'He was chatting her up all night' suggests persistent flirting.

'Chat someone up'是跟某人搭讪，通常是带有浪漫意图的对话。'Chat-up line'是事先准备好的搭讪开场白。'He was chatting her up all night'暗示他一晚上都在搭讪。

'Chat someone up' es coquetear con alguien, generalmente a través de una conversación con intención romántica. Un 'chat-up line' es una frase preparada para ligar. 'He was chatting her up all night' sugiere un flirteo persistente.

「Chat someone up」は恋愛的な意図を持って相手に話しかけること。「Chat-up line」はあらかじめ用意した口説き文句。「He was chatting her up all night」はずっと口説いていたことを示す。

로맨틱한 의도를 가지고 대화하며 상대를 끌려는 영국식 표현. 'Chat-up line'은 작업 멘트(픽업 라인)를 뜻한다.

Examples

He tried to chat me up.
他试图跟我搭讪
Intentó ligar conmigo
彼が私を口説こうとした
그가 나한테 작업을 걸었어.
That chat-up line was terrible.
那个搭讪台词太烂了
Esa frase para ligar fue horrible
あの口説き文句はひどかった
그 작업 멘트는 정말 형편없었어.
She's being chatted up by that guy.
她正被那个男的搭讪
Ese tío está intentando ligar con ella
彼女はあの男に口説かれている
걔가 저 남자한테 작업당하고 있어.

Pronunciation

/tʃæt ʌp/

Usage Guide

Context: flirting, bars, dating

Tone: casual, often playful

✓ Do Say

Chat up
搭讪
ligar
口説く
누군가한테 작업 거는 중.
Chat-up line
搭讪台词
frase para ligar
口説き文句
작업 당했어.
Chatting up
正在搭讪
coqueteando
口説いている
작업 멘트.

✗ Don't Say

Implies romantic intent, not friendly chat
暗示浪漫意图，不是友好的聊天
Implica intención romántica, no charla amistosa
友好的な会話ではなく、恋愛的な意図を示す
미국인은 'hit on'이라고 함

Common Mistakes

Flirtatious conversation specifically

Origin & History

British combination of 'chat' (talk) with 'up' (intensifier). The phrase captures the attempt to elevate casual conversation into romantic territory.

Etymology: Chat + up (intensifier)

First recorded: British slang, mid-20th century

Cultural Context

Era: Mid-20th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: British comedy; Dating shows

Regional notes: Standard British for flirting.

Variations

Chat upChat-up lineChatting up