work the room
verb1
Idiomatic, Of a host To interact enthusiastically with the attendees at an event, by moving among them, greeting them, and engaging them in conversation.
Hostess; or guest; hostess; or guest
- As a campaigning politician, he really knew how to shake hands, kiss babies, and work the room.
2
Idiomatic To interact with one's audience, taking cues from its reactions and adapting one's performance or words to elicit the audience's attention and enthusiasm.
Of a performer or public speaker
- In show business parlance, Miss Hudson knows how to "work the room." Her comic turns are as rooted in vaudeville as her high-style wit is straight out of the smart supper club circuit.1989 February 26, Alvin Klein, “Theatre: ‘Jerry's Girls,’ Revue, in East Windsor”, in New York Times, retrieved 03 Jul 2008:
- Synonyms
- work the crowd, work the line, work the bar, work the audience
- Related terms
- meet-and-greet, read the room