tap up

English

Verb

tap up (third-person singular simple present taps up, present participle tapping up, simple past and past participle tapped up)

1. (transitive, British) To make a specific approach to a person considered to be suitable for a professional position.

   In earlier years, the intelligence services would often recruit agents by tapping them up.

2. (transitive, British, sports) To make an approach to a player, under contract to another club, in order to attempt to negotiate a transfer.

   Synonym: (US, Canada) tamper

See also

• tortious interference