To chat casually or flatter someone in order to gain favor, especially for business or social advantage.
From Yiddish 'shmues' meaning gossip or idle conversation. The word entered English in the early 20th century via Yiddish-speaking immigrants.
Schmooze is one of hundreds of Yiddish words that became part of American English—other examples are 'schlep,' 'kvetch,' and 'chutzpah.' New York basically adopted entire Yiddish vocabulary into everyday speech!
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