Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

Break the ice

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Break the ice" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourEveryday Casual & Workplace collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Everyday Casual & Workplace

Break the ice

Break the ice
To do or say something to relieve tension, ease awkwardness, or start a conversation, especially when meeting people for the first time.
History & Origin

The idiom originates from the era of maritime trade before modern infrastructure, when frozen waterways would trap commercial ships in ports during winter. Special heavy-duty ships called 'icebreakers' were deployed to clear paths through the ice, physically enabling trade and communication to resume. Over time, the phrase shifted from this literal maritime practice to a metaphor for overcoming social stiffness and opening up communication.

Examples
Workplace Email

Hi team, to break the ice before our intensive project kickoff meeting on Monday, I would love for everyone to reply with a quick photo of their favorite weekend hobby.

Casual Conversation

I was incredibly nervous on our first date, but she broke the ice right away by making a hilarious joke about how clumsy she is.

Academic Writing

In group psychological studies, researchers frequently employ structured introductory games to break the ice and establish a baseline of comfort among unfamiliar participants.

News/Media

The international summit began with tense silence, but a lighthearted comment from the Prime Minister about the local weather helped break the ice between the two rival diplomats.

Formal Speech

Before I dive into the quarterly financial metrics, let me break the ice by thanking our incredible hosting committee for organizing such a wonderful venue tonight.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. The technician had to break the ice on the frozen server wires to make sure the internet connection started working properly again.

B. During the networking event, Sarah shared a funny story about her first job to break the ice with the new clients.

C. After arguing for hours, their friendship finally broke the ice and they decided never to speak to each other again.

D. You need to break the ice carefully before you pour the hot coffee, or the glass mug might shatter from the sudden change in temperature.