Meaning
"Break the Ice"는 낯선 사람들 사이에서 어색한 분위기를 깨고 편안한 대화를 시작하는 상황에서 사용되는 표현입니다. 이 표현은 원래 얼어붙은 강이나 바다의 얼음을 깨고 배가 나아갈 수 있도록 하는 것에서 유래되었습니다. 마찬가지로, 대화에서의 "Break the Ice"는 처음 만난 사람들과의 거리감을 줄이고 자연스러운 대화를 시작하는 것을 의미합니다.
예를 들어, 새로운 팀원들과의 첫 회의에서 "Break the Ice"를 위해 간단한 자기소개나 재미있는 퀴즈를 진행할 수 있습니다. 이렇게 하면 모두가 좀 더 편안한 마음으로 참석할 수 있게 됩니다. 일상생활이나 직장에서 처음 만나는 사람들과의 관계를 형성할 때 유용하게 사용할 수 있는 표현입니다.
"Break the Ice"는 또한 공식적이거나 비공식적인 모임에서 분위기를 부드럽게 만들어주는 활동이나 말을 지칭하기도 합니다. 그러므로 처음 만난 사람들과의 거리를 좁히고 싶을 때 이 표현을 활용해보세요.
Example
To break the ice, my teacher played a really fun game.
To break the ice for our new coworkers, we love going for a drink at happy hour.
Maybe a kind word would break the ice.
Break the Ice
I think we both know the need for effective social skills in modern society. Here are a few ways to "break the ice":
- Offer compliments. We all love kind words and a compliment is great way to offer praise and have a positive dialogue with the one you're speaking with.
- Introduce yourself. Offer a friendly hello and start up a conversation by exchanging names. Introducing yourself is a good way to initiate small talk. Getting to know someone always begins with opening yourself up and letting others know who you are.
- Ask for input. Ask for advice or let the other know that you're open to their opinion. It will make them feel important and help begin a discussion.
- Jokes. Laughing is healthy and laughing together builds a great rapport. Make it light and polite and share a good laugh!
Quiz
What is an Idiom
An idiom is a phrase or expression that usually presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase. Idioms are not just used in conversations – they're also very common in literature, movies, and music. We utilize them to convey a message in a concise and effective manner, and often have deep cultural or historical significance. They help to create a vivid and memorable image in the minds of the audience.
Idioms are difficult because they do not mean what they literally state. Communication challenges emerge when you translate an idiom in your language; it will not make sense or if it does make sense you may miss the intended meaning.
How to Study Idioms
- Read them. Read books, newspapers, magazine articles, online articles for exposure in written material.
- Watch them. Watch TV shows and movies in English! There are so many streaming services available for you to choose from. Listen attentively and try to understand the context in which they are used.
- Use them. Talk to native speakers and try to incorporate common idioms into your conversations. Try using them during conversations with friends, family, coworkers, or through text.
- Practice. Practice. Practice. Remember that you can't learn all of them! So start with a few that you understand and build your library of idioms from there!
