if a machine or an engine warms up, it becomes ready to be used after someone switches it on
if a minor performer warms up an audience, they put the audience in the right mood for the main performance
if an event or situation warms up, or if something warms it up, it starts to become enjoyable, interesting, or busy
if you warm up a machine or an engine, you switch it on and wait for a little while until it is ready to be used
same as warm
to become warm
to prepare for a particular race, game, or competition by competing in less important events first
to prepare for a sport or activity by doing gentle exercises or practising just before it starts
A dozen or more UniVans were backed in, all with their engines running so that their cab heaters could warm up.
By midnight the party had really warmed up.
Drink this and you’ll soon warm up.
In cold weather it takes longer for the car to warm up.
It was as if the lovemaking was a warm-up to a greater intimacy.
I’ll warm up some soup for lunch.
Margaret found a halter and lead rope and led Mac to the fence of the warm-up ring, where she tied him.
She would pass over the foodstuffs and get straight into a bath in order to warm up.
Stone had the vinyl cover up tight around his neck, blood starting to warm up, his whole body tingling.
The boys warmed up for their big game with a 4–0 win at Derby last week.
The players are already on the field warming up.
The warm-up man had come and gone and the studio audience were getting restless.
Then came a stretch program which incorporated some yoga and breathing exercises to warm up and improve flexibility.
`No, darling: in this performance I am merely the warm-up artist.
stretching exercises to warm up your calf muscles
warmsup
warmingup
warmedup
There is no origin for this phrasal verb
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