Are you looking for a way to make an awkward situation more comfortable? Maybe you are in a roomful of new people that you never met before. If so, you may be looking for a way to break the ice. While this may sound like something chilly, it\u2019s actually a great way to open up the floor for conversation. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n
Breaking the can literally means breaking through frozen water. However, the most common meaning of the phrase \u201cbreak the ice\u201d is to reduce tension or awkwardness. Turing a strange or uncomfortable situation into a friendly one by making small talk or cracking jokes is one of the main forms of breaking the ice. To make others feel wanted or included is another meaning of breaking the ice.<\/strong><\/p>\n Making others feel relaxed or comfortable is a common meaning behind the phrase. Reducing unfamiliarity is also known as breaking the ice. Saying or doing something that puts those around you at ease is also breaking the ice. It can be as simple as playing a game, introducing yourself, asking questions, or making a joke. More information can be found in the video (here<\/a>).<\/p>\n \u201cI am not really sure how to break the ice with my new coworkers, they have all been with the company for years\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cMeeting new people can be hard, but look for simple ways to break the ice and get the conversation flowing\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cTalking about current events in pop culture is a great way to break the ice with people under 30\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cUsing politics to break the ice can either go really good or really bad depending on which side of the aisle your audience sides with\u201d.<\/p>\n The idiom break the ice can be traced back to the late 1570s. The term originally was used to refer to ice boats that were used to break through sheets of ice in the ocean. These icebreakers were used to clear the way for regular travel and shipping boats to make it through the same waters. The phrase \u201cbreak the ice\u201d in this time was quite literal.<\/p>\n It found use in other ways around 1579 when Sir Thomas North use the phrase metaphorically. He wrote, \u201cTo be the first to break the Ice of the Enterprize.\u201d This can be considered the earliest adaptation of the phrase for casual use. The current use of the phrase came about in the 17th century when Samuel Butler published a poem in 1663 titled Hudibras. The English mock-heroic narrative stated that the orator broke both the silence and the ice, referring to the tension in the room. Since that time, the phrase has been used as a way of explaining starting a new venture or breaking the tension in any situation.<\/p>\nExample Usage<\/h2>\n
Origin<\/h2>\n