Shmoosing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Enjoying informal conversation with others to create relationships
2. Taking part in relaxed, informal chatting meant to build or maintain social connections
3. Having easygoing conversations that help establish friendly rapport between people

Etymology: Before it meant friendly chatter or working a room, this term was tied to news. The Yiddish verb "shmuesn," meaning to converse or chat, probably comes from the Hebrew "shmuot," or "reports," the plural of a word for news. Chatting was, in a sense, the exchanging of news. English speakers adopted the Yiddish form and kept its conversational core. Its modern edge is the networking sense: talk aimed at building goodwill or useful contacts, often in business or social settings. The casual exchange carries an undercurrent of purpose.

Synonyms: chatting, gossiping, socializing