SpeakUp

Grammar fix

break the ice

start talking

to do or say something to make people feel more comfortable and willing to talk, especially when they first meet or in a new situation.

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • Telling a funny story helped break the ice at the party.communication
  • In group discussions, I usually ask a simple question to break the ice and make everyone feel more comfortable.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: break the ice (with someone)

WrongI told a joke to break ice.

RightI told a joke to break the ice.

It's 'break THE ice' — the 'the' is fixed.

Patternbreak the ice (with someone)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff He told a joke in order to reduce the initial social awkwardness.

Natural He told a joke to break the ice.

'Break the ice' is the set idiom for easing first-meeting tension; the paraphrase is clinical.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • break the ice
    helptoa good way toicebreaker

Don't confuse it

Do not confuse with 'break up', which means to end a relationship.

Try it in Daily Speak →