Synonyms and antonyms of To start a romantic or sexual relationship in British Thesaurus

ask out ()

to invite someone to go with you to a cinema, restaurant etc because you want to start a romantic or sexual relationship with them

flirt (verb)

to behave towards someone in a way that shows your sexual or romantic interest in them

chat up ()

to start a conversation with someone because you want to have a sexual or romantic relationship with them

pair off ()

to start a romantic relationship with someone, or to bring two people together because you want them to have a relationship with each other

chase (verb)

to try to get someone to have a sexual relationship with you

run after (informal)

informal to try to make someone notice you because you are sexually attracted to them

pick up (informal)

informal to start talking to someone because you want to have sex with them

make a pass at someone ()

to try to start a sexual relationship with someone, for example by talking to them or touching them in a sexual way

sweep someone off their feet ()

to have a strong effect on someone so that they quickly become attracted to you

have your eye on someone ()

to be considering trying to start a sexual or romantic relationship with someone

come on strong (informal)

informal to show very clearly that you are determined to do something, especially to start a sexual relationship with someone

come on to (informal)

informal to behave towards someone in a way that shows you would like to have a sexual relationship with them

commit (verb)

to decide to have a permanent relationship with someone

commit yourself ()

to decide to have a permanent relationship with someone

conquer (verb)

mainly literary to earn the love, admiration, or respect of someone

cop off (British)

Britishinformal to meet someone and start a sexual relationship with them

crack onto ()

to try to start a conversation with someone because you are sexually attracted to them

cruise (verb)

informal to go around a place trying to find a sexual partner

eye up ()

to look at someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them

fix up (informal)

informal to arrange for two people to meet so that they might begin a romantic relationship

fling yourself at someone ()

to show that you are interested in someone sexually, in a way that shows a lack of control

get back together ()

if two people who ended their sexual or romantic relationship get back together, they start having a relationship with each other again

get back with ()

to start to have a sexual or romantic relationship with someone that you had a relationship with before

get it together (British)

Britishspoken if two people get it together, they start a romantic or sexual relationship

get off with ()

to start a new sexual relationship with someone

get together (informal)

informal if two people get together, they start a romantic or sexual relationship

get your claws into someone (informal)

informal to get control over someone and make them do what you want, especially in a romantic or sexual relationship

give someone the eye ()

to look at someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them

go off with ()

to start a new relationship with someone after leaving the person you were previously having a relationship with

groom (verb)

if an adult who is sexually attracted to children grooms a young person, they become friendly with them, for example using Internet chat rooms, so that they can meet them and have illegal sex with them

hit on (mainly American)

mainly Americaninformal to try to start a conversation with someone because you are sexually attracted to them

hook up (informal)

informal if two people hook up, they start a relationship together, or they start doing something together

invite out ()

to invite someone to go somewhere such as a restaurant or cinema with you, often because you want to start a romantic or sexual relationship with them

lech after ()

to look at or behave towards someone in an unpleasant way that shows you are sexually interested in them

leer (verb)

to look at someone in an unpleasant way that shows you are sexually interested in them

make a move on someone ()

to try to start sexual activity with someone

make a play for someone ()

to try to begin a romantic or sexual relationship with someone by making them notice you

ogle (verb)

showing disapproval to keep looking at someone in a way that is too obvious, because you think they are sexually attractive

pay court to someone ()

to try to make someone like you by showing them how much you admire or love them

play Cupid ()

to try to make two people begin a romantic relationship

play footsie with someone ()

to show sexual interest in someone by touching their feet with yours, usually under a table

play hard to get ()

to pretend not to be interested in someone who you think is sexually attractive in order to make them more interested in you

proposition (verb)

to offer to have sex with someone, especially in an offensive way

pull (verb)

Britishinformal if you pull someone, that person is attracted to you in a sexual or romantic way

pursue (verb)

to keep trying to persuade someone to start a sexual relationship with you

rekindle (verb)

to start a friendship or relationship again with someone

renew (verb)

to start a friendship or relationship again after a period of time when it stopped existing

romance (verb)

formalold-fashioned to behave in a romantic way towards someone

seduce (verb)

to persuade someone to have sex with you

ship (verb)

informal to want or support a romantic relationship between fictional characters, usually one that is suggested by fans rather than shown in the work of fiction itself. The couple generally has a 'ship name' formed of the names of the two characters.

sniff around ()

to try to persuade someone to have a sexual relationship with you

strike up a friendship/conversation etc (with someone) ()

to start something such as a relationship or conversation with someone in an informal way

swipe right/left ()

on an online dating app, to show whether you find someone attractive or unattractive by moving your finger to the right or left across their photo on the screen of a smartphone or tablet

throw yourself at someone ()

to make it obvious that you think someone is sexually attractive

try it on (with someone) ()

to attempt to start a sexual relationship with someone

the way to someone’s heart ()

the way to make someone love you

win/capture/steal someone’s heart ()

to make someone start to love you

woo (verb)

old-fashioned if a man woos a woman, he tries to start a romantic relationship with her and to persuade her to marry him