Idiom
B1
· Daily English
break the ice
To say or do something to make people feel relaxed at the start.
What 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.
Examples
- 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.
Quick check
1. “Let’s play a quick game to break the ice.” This means the game will…
Use it with a tutor
The fastest way to make new English stick is to say it out loud with a real teacher. Message an independent tutor directly — no commission, free to browse, reachable in mainland China.
Find a tutor →