schmooze
UK[ʃmuːz]US[ʃmuːz]
v
to talk informally and in a friendly way with someone, especially in order to gain an advantage
n
a friendly and informal conversation, especially one intended to flatter or persuade
Etymology
the word 'schmooze' entered english in the late 19th century as a borrowing from yiddish 'shmuesn', which means 'to talk, chat, or converse'. the yiddish term itself derives from the hebrew 'shĕmu'ōth', meaning 'news, rumors, reports'. the semantic journey transformed the neutral act of exchanging news into the modern english sense of engaging in persuasive, often ingratiating, small talk, particularly within social or professional networking contexts. its adoption into american english slang reflects the cultural influence of yiddish-speaking communities, and it now carries a connotation of strategic friendliness.
Analysis
this word is a simplex loanword from yiddish. it is not productively formed from separable english morphemes.
Examples
he spent the evening schmoozing with potential clients at the charity gala.
a little schmoozing can go a long way in building important business relationships.
the event was less about the lecture and more about the post-event schmooze.