break the ice
Idiom · Daily EnglishDaily EnglishB1
To say or do something to make people feel relaxed at the start.
1What it means
Break the ice means to reduce the awkward, cold feeling when people don’t know each other yet — usually with a small joke, a question, or an easy activity.
An icebreaker (one word) is the thing you use to do it: a game, a question, a light comment.
💡 Picture two strangers as a frozen lake — you break the ice so things can move.
2Examples
- He told a joke to break the ice.
- Asking about people’s weekend is a good way to break the ice.
- The teacher started with an icebreaker activity.
3Quick check Tap the best answer.
1. “Let’s play a quick game to break the ice.” This means the game will…
Global Tutor Board · globaltutorboard.comIdiom · break the ice
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