To break the ice english idioms and phrases 60 notes. View american english definition of break the ice change your default dictionary to american english. May 12, 2020 break the ice thirdperson singular simple present breaks the ice, present participle breaking the ice, simple past broke the ice, past participle broken the ice used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning. Definition of breaking the ice in the idioms dictionary. Miller is a musician, conceptual artist and writer based in new york city. Jul 19, 2011 part fictional manifesto, part history and part science book, book of ice furthers millers reputation as an innovative artist capable of making the old look new. This refers to the need to break the ice around a ship before it is able to sail. Grahams breakfasttime phone call to david was an icebreaking exercise. This idiom most likely developed from the practice of boats at sea breaking the ice in a body of water in order to pass through it and clear a path for other boats to also travel through. Definition and synonyms of break the ice from the online english dictionary from macmillan education this is the british english definition of break the ice.
This is the first time break the ice is used to describe a social gesture though. Breaking the ice synonyms, breaking the ice pronunciation, breaking the ice translation, english dictionary definition of breaking the ice. I got into a terrible fight with my friend, and we hadnt talked for days. An icebreaking comment or action is one that breaks the ice. Sep 14, 2009 ice deviated a lot, it was just as addictive but a bit odd, honestly. To get past the initial awkwardness of meeting a new person or an otherwise uncomfortable situation. Definition of break the ice by the dictionary of american idioms. Nick wilson, from st athan, had to break the ice before he could cast out a line at warren mill and then he had to endure a snowstorm as he landed two carp weighing 9lb, one of 14lb and a 17lb beauty. And finally from the work, in your face a smile of satisfaction from what you and i did. The first half is enchanting, full of ice castles and dangerous expeditions and while theres a talking bear and all, its still grounded in reality. Definition and synonyms of break the ice from the online english dictionary from macmillan education. Did you know that flavour of the month originated in a marketing campaign in american icecream parlours in the 1940s, when a particular flavour would be. Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning.
The american heritage dictionary of idioms 0046442727747. This phrase is sometimes used when two people are meeting for the first time and theres a cold social awkwardness that exists between them. Ice ix is a metastable phase generated by supercooling of ice iii and is essentially a lowtemperature form of it. I dont like parties because i dont know what to say to break the ice with people i dont know.
This is the british english definition of break the ice. Its worth noting that originally, break the ice was a term used to describe ships. It is hard to break the ice with people you dont know. Nowadays, explosives dropped from aircraft are used to break the ice dams before they become dangerous.
Max deals mostly in ice but can get you almost anything. The figurative use is quite old and was recorded by sir thomas north in his 1579 translation of plutarchs lives of the noble grecians and romanes. The magazine of digital arts, and his articles have appeared in the village voice, artforum, rap pages, paper magazine, the source, and many other outlets. This idiom is often used to describe saying something friendly to break the silence between two people. An icebreaker is something that you say or do to break the ice. Please note idioms are not tested as part of any cambridge english language.
Breaking the ice definition of breaking the ice by the. If you break the ice at a party or meeting, or in a new situation, you say or do. His artwork employs a wide array of digitally created music and multimedia to create a form of postmodern. More brittle than glass, at times stronger than steel, at other times flowing like molasses, ice covers 10 percent of the earths land and 7 percent of its oceans. Class survey make this a milling activity so that each student randomly asks six classmates their survey questions. However, few people actually are interested in what they are asking. Change your default dictionary to american english. The second half is a riot of magic and strange things, its a complete. In winter special icebreaker boats with reinforced hulls would be used to break the ice.
Of course that use was really old school by the time ol shakey penned this play. The minute a man tries to break the ice with this little lady, its a freezeout about ten men mounted the sides of the nautilus, armed with pickaxes to break the ice around the vessel, which was soon free so you must be content with giving yourself a dry polish till we break the ice in the well, and can get a bucketful out for the boys the visit is an attempt to break the ice between. To break the ice 1 to relax a tense or formal atmosphere or social situation. To destroy the completeness of a group of related items. In this haunting and surreal novel, the narrator and a man known as the warden search for an elusive girl in a frozen, seemingly postnuclear, apocalyptic landscape. To break the ice definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Break the ice definition of break the ice by the free. Break the ice definition, the solid form of water, produced by freezing. A few laughs go a long way toward making a potential client comfortable. Break the ice meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Like me, i know that you also in my bed, in my arms want to wake up, both naked, i kiss you and i caress the breeze. Phrase with special meaning functioning as verbfor example, put their heads together, come to an end. Whilst break the ice was first used to describe breaking ice to allow for a clear path for boats to travel, in the 16th century the phrase started to be applied more figuratively, in the sense that to break the ice meant to set some form of endeavour in motion by creating a path for others to follow.
If someone broke the ice of a ship, he or she took it on its first voyage. The ice of his manner betrayed his dislike of the new ambassador. Mariana gosnell here explores the history and uses of ice in all its complexity, grandeur, and significance. A figure derived from boatmen who send one of their number ahead to break up the ice on a frozen river and open the way for the others. Definition of break the ice the online slang dictionary. Ice scrapers are tools designed to break the ice free and clear the windows, though removing the ice can be a long and laborious process. Do you know what the english idiom break the ice means. The earlier meaning of this phrase, that is, to forge a path for others to follow, alludes of course to the breaking of ice to allow the navigation of boats. Ice deviated a lot, it was just as addictive but a bit odd, honestly. The book of ice contains an introduction by celebrated physicist brian greene, author of the bestselling fabric of the cosmos. While some might connect the idiom to the 18th century when special icebreaking ships were built to help explore he polar regions, the first recorded use actually goes back to the 17th century 1678 when samuel butler used it in his poem hudibras. Oct 31, 2014 for this blog entry, i want to write about the expression, break the ice. While some might connect the idiom to the 18th century when special ice breaking ships were built to help explore he polar regions, the first recorded use actually goes back to the 17th century 1678 when samuel butler used it in his poem hudibras. Break the ice is a common phrase that means to break down a social stiffness in order for things to be more comfortable.
It is the most familiar and abundant liquid on earth. Today i saw her sitting alone and decided to break the ice. To cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently. Make a start, pave the way, as in newtons theories broke the ice for modern physics. On ice article about on ice by the free dictionary. We use it when we want to talk about a situation in which we are meeting a new person or people for the first time and we do something in order to feel more comfortable with them. This idiom alludes to breaking ice in a channel so that a ship can pass. I dont want to add salt to the wound, but i heard that the company is planning a major layoff. When you break the ice, you get over any initial embarrassment or shyness when you meet someone for the first time and start conversing. Created by the best teachers and used by over 51,00,000 students. Once they start talking to each other and move past the initial awkward moments. This idiom most likely developed from the practice of boats at sea breaking the ice in a body of water in order to pass through it. Ice viii is a lowtemperature, more highly ordered form of ice vii.
From the freezing of pleasant lake in new hampshire to the breakup of a vermont river at the onset of spring, from the frozen antarctic landscape that emperor penguins inhabit to the cold, watery route bowhead whales take between arctic ice floes, gosnell examines icebergs, icicles, and. Break the ice idiom, meaning and origin know your phrase. Including a few fun details in large group introductions can be a great way to break the ice. Phenomena of supercooling and metastable equilibrium are generally very characteristic of the phases formed by water. In solid form ice and liquid form it covers about 70% of the earths surface. From longman dictionary of contemporary english break the ice break the ice informal to make people feel more friendly and willing to talk to each other sams arrival broke the ice and people began to talk and laugh. To start to get to know people to avoid social awkwardness and formality. Dec 16, 2014 this series of short fun clips show the real meaning of popular english idioms and how to use them in everyday life.
Oxford dictionary of english idioms oxford reference. And your cold people the british are beyond all price, when once youve broken their confounded ice the ice in question is metaphorically that on a river or lake in. From the freezing of pleasant lake in new hampshire to the breakup of a vermont river at the onset of spring, from the. This series of short fun clips show the real meaning of popular english idioms and how to use them in everyday life. The nature, the history, and the uses of an astonishing. Synonyms for break the ice at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. Jan 30, 2018 do you know what the english idiom break the ice means. Top break the ice synonyms idioms are start the ball rolling, set the ball rolling and set in motion. Information and translations of break the ice in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web.
To break the ice to break the ice, is to open the way and to be the first in beginning a task. Mar 04, 2015 whilst break the ice was first used to describe breaking ice to allow for a clear path for boats to travel, in the 16th century the phrase started to be applied more figuratively, in the sense that to break the ice meant to set some form of endeavour in motion by creating a path for others to follow. Edited by the critically acclaimed terry mcmillan, the awardwinning author of five previous novels and recipient of the essence award for excellence in literature, this is a striking collection of works from contemporary africanamerican authors, both established and emerging. In this haunting and surreal novel, the narrator and a man known as the warden search for. Etymology word origins interesting phrase histories. For this blog entry, i want to write about the expression, break the ice. Break the ice definition in the cambridge english dictionary. The underlying image is to break the frozen surface of a river, lake, etc. This phrase has been used with its literal meaning since around the early 1600s, and its idiomatic usage developed somewhat later.