# break the ice

**Pronunciation:** /breɪk ðə aɪs/ · BRAKE-thuh-EYES

**Part of speech:** idiom

## Meaning

To do or say something that makes people feel more relaxed and comfortable in a social situation where they do not know each other well.

## Examples

- She told a funny story about her commute to break the ice with her new colleagues.
- Games are a great way to break the ice at the beginning of a workshop.
- It took a few minutes for someone to break the ice, but soon the whole room was chatting.

## Synonyms

- start — General term for beginning an interaction.
- warm up — Refers to becoming more comfortable or friendly over time.
- initiate — Formal way to describe starting a process or conversation.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/break%20the%20ice

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