Some people say talking about the weather is boring small talk. Do you agree?

A natural way to answer

I can see both sides, but I don't really agree. Talking about the weather is an easy way to break the ice and it's something everyone can relate to. It might be a safe bet rather than a deep topic, but that's exactly why it works.

Key phrases to use

• break the ice — say or do something to make people feel relaxed at the start of a conversation“He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.”
• going through the motions — doing something out of habit or duty, without real interest or effort“By Friday I was just going through the motions at work.”
• safe bet — a choice that is very likely to work or be acceptable, with little risk“Asking about the weekend is always a safe bet for small talk.”
• common ground — shared interests, opinions or experiences that two people can connect over“We finally found some common ground talking about travel.”