warm–up

a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event the couple's initial exchange of insults proved to be only a warm-up for their booze-fueled fight later that night Synonyms curtain-raiser, overture, preamble, preliminary, prologue (also prolog), warm-upRelated Words countdown, run-up [chiefly British]; lead-in; kickoff, start