break the ice
do or say something to relieve initial awkwardness
In Spanish
romper el hielo
Examples
- He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.
- She brought a game to the party to break the ice with new guests.
- At the conference, the speaker used a funny story to break the ice.
When it's used
The idiom is common in both informal and professional settings to describe actions that ease initial tension. It appears frequently in conversation and everyday writing. The phrase is well known and often used to describe social interactions.
The common mistake
A common mistake is using the wrong verb form, such as 'broke the ice', when intending to speak in the present tense. It’s important to maintain the correct verb tense according to the context.