make a move

• make moves

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make a move (third-person singular simple present makes a move, present participle making a move, simple past and past participle made a move)

1. (idiomatic) To take action.
2. (idiomatic, chiefly UK and India) To depart from a place; to set off.
   • 1994 [1993], Irvine Welsh, “The First Shag in Ages”, in Trainspotting, London: Minerva, →ISBN, page 149:

     He swallowed hard on his tea. —Well, ah must be making a move. Thanks again.

   • 2000, Carola Dunn, Rattle His Bones (2011 Macmillan ed.), →ISBN, p. 173 (Google preview):

     “We'll give you a lift, darling,” Lady Genevieve said languidly, rising. “It's time we made a move.”

   • 2006, Roberta Kray, The Debt‎, paperback edition, →ISBN:

     "Do you want to stay for another or shall we make a move?"
     He looks at his watch. "Yeah, let's go."

   • 2009, Dan Katz, Dave the Detective: Book #2 Identity Crisis, →ISBN, page 150:

     “Should we make a move?” she asked over the music. “We could find a place to dance. or we could go back to our place.”

3. (idiomatic, often followed by on) To initiate a conversation or perform an action intended to engage the willing attention of a person in whom one has a romantic or sexual interest; to approach someone of romantic or sexual appeal in hopes of escalating to a romantic or sexual encounter or relationship.
   • 2007, Anita Hamilton, “50 Best Websites 2008: Howcast”, in Time, retrieved 13 July 2014:

     [T]he video how-to site Howcast . . . breaks from its more staid counterparts, such as Expert Village and eHow, by injecting a necessary dose of humor. Come here to learn "how to make a move on a girl while watching a movie on a couch".

4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see make,‎ move.

• (depart from a place): Sometimes used as a polite way of describing the act of leaving the company of others.