A friend wants to repair a relationship after a long silence but doesn't know how to start. What would you tell them?

A natural way to answer

I would advise them to reach out without any pressure or expectation. A short, honest message acknowledging the silence is usually enough to open the door. The key is to take responsibility for their part and to be patient, because the other person may need time.

Key phrases to use

• bite the bullet — to force yourself to do something difficult or unpleasant you've been avoiding“I finally bit the bullet and apologised.”
• build it up — to imagine something as bigger or worse than it actually is“Don't build it up in your head — it'll be fine.”
• extend an olive branch — to make a gesture showing you want to make peace“He extended an olive branch by inviting her to dinner.”
• laying the blame — saying that a particular person is responsible for something bad“There's no point laying the blame on anyone now.”