How do you use "Break the ice" in a sentence?

Let's play a game to break the ice. She told a joke to break the ice. It took a while to break the ice, but then we chatted for hours.

Break the ice

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: To start a conversation or ease tension in a social situation

打破僵局，缓和社交场合的紧张气氛

Iniciar una conversación o aliviar la tensión en una situación social

会話を始める、社交的な場の緊張をほぐす

어색한 분위기를 깨다

To overcome initial awkwardness in a social setting, making conversation flow more easily. Like a ship breaking ice to allow passage.

克服社交场合中最初的尴尬，让交谈更加顺畅。就像破冰船破冰开路一样。

Superar la incomodidad inicial en un entorno social, haciendo que la conversación fluya con más facilidad. Como un barco rompiendo el hielo para abrirse paso.

社交の場での最初のぎこちなさを克服し、会話をスムーズにすること。航路を開くために氷を砕く船のようなもの。

사교적인 자리에서 처음의 어색함을 극복하여 대화가 자연스럽게 흐르도록 하는 것. 배가 얼음을 깨고 항로를 여는 것에서 유래했다.

Examples

Let's play a game to break the ice.
我们来玩个游戏打破僵局吧
Juguemos a algo para romper el hielo
緊張をほぐすためにゲームをしよう
분위기를 풀기 위해 게임을 하자.
She told a joke to break the ice.
她讲了个笑话来活跃气氛
Contó un chiste para romper el hielo
彼女は場を和ませるために冗談を言った
그녀는 분위기를 풀려고 농담을 했다.
It took a while to break the ice, but then we chatted for hours.
打破僵局花了一些时间，但之后我们聊了好几个小时
Costó un poco romper el hielo, pero luego estuvimos charlando durante horas
打ち解けるまで少し時間がかかったが、その後何時間もおしゃべりした
처음에는 어색했지만, 일단 분위기가 풀리자 몇 시간이나 수다를 떨었다.

Pronunciation

/breɪk ðə aɪs/

Usage Guide

Context: social situations, meetings, parties

Tone: friendly, encouraging

✓ Do Say

Break the ice
打破僵局
Romper el hielo
場を和ませる
분위기를 풀다
Let's break the ice
我们来破冰吧
Rompamos el hielo
緊張をほぐそう
어색한 분위기를 깨자

✗ Don't Say

Very common social expression
非常常见的社交用语
Expresión social muy común
非常に一般的な社交表現
매우 흔한 사교 표현

Common Mistakes

None—universally understood

Origin & History

From the literal ice-breaking ships that cleared paths for other vessels. Metaphorically, breaking through the 'cold' barrier of initial social awkwardness. Used figuratively since the 17th century.

Etymology: From ice-breaking ships clearing passages

First recorded: Figurative use 17th century

Cultural Context

Era: 17th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Team building exercises; Party games

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking world.

Variations

Break the iceBreaking the iceIce broken