# work the crowd

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/work-the-crowd
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To work the room, or to do the equivalent with an outdoor audience.

## Examples

- The performer knows how to work the crowd.
- The politician walked through the hall to work the crowd and shake hands with every voter.
- By moving effortlessly between tables and sharing personal anecdotes, the speaker managed to work the crowd until the entire room felt connected to his message.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.