break the ice en · VERB
Pronunciation
- /ˈbɹeɪk ði ˈaɪs/ (UK, US)
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
By application of the metaphor that strangers are socially separated by ice.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To start to get to know people to avoid social awkwardness and formality.
Including a few fun details in large group introductions can be a great way to break the ice.
-
(idiomatic) To introduce a conversation.
If it be so ſir, that you are the man Muſt ſteed us all, and me amongſt the reſt: And if you breake the ice and do this ſeeke, Atchieve the elder: ſet the yonger free, For our acceſſe, whose hap ſhall be to have her, will not so graceleſſe be, to be ingrate.
c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 214:
- (idiomatic) To surmount initial difficulties; to overcome obstacles and make a beginning.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see break, the, ice.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| breaking the ice | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| breaks the ice | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| broke the ice | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| broken the ice | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Translations (34)
hu megtöri a jeget (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · pl przełamać lody (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · fi keventää (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · es romper el hielo (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · ja 口火を切る (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · pt quebrar o gelo (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · da bryde isen (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · ru сде́лать пе́рвый шаг (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · fi vapauttaa (tunnelmaa) (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · gl romper o xeo (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · cmn 破冰 (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · lv spert pirmo soli (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · el σπάω τον πάγο (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · el σπάζω τον πάγο (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · hy սառույցը կոտրել (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · cs prolomit ledy (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · cmn 打破僵局 (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · tr kabuğunu kırmak (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · cmn 打破冷場 /打破冷场 (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · ca rompre el glaç (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · nl het ijs breken (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · th ละลายพฤติกรรม (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · tr buzları eritmek (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · tr kabuğundan çıkmak (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · hi बात-चीत की औपचारिकता हटाना (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · fr briser la glace (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · uk ламати лід (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · sv bryta isen (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · ru положи́ть нача́ло (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · it rompere il ghiaccio (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · ja 言い出す (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · de das Eis brechen (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · no bryte isen (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness) · ro sparge gheața (to start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness)