Schmooze
/ʃmuːz/noun
To talk in a relaxed, friendly way, often to gain an advantage.
Did you know?Schmooze comes from Yiddish shmues, meaning “conversation,” from Hebrew shmu‘ah, “report” or “rumor,” so the word’s DNA is literally built from talk, gossip, and social influence.
Etymological Timeline
Hebrew
Hebrew
šĕmûʿāh
“a report, rumor, or tidings”
Yiddish
Yiddish
shmues
“conversation; talk”
Late 19th Century
English
schmooze
“to chat in a friendly, familiar way”
20th Century
English
schmooze
“to engage in casual, persuasive social talk, often for advantage”