To break the ice
Meaning: To ease the initial tension in a social situation.
Language: English
Literally: To break the ice
Category: Nature
Origin: Ships once needed icebreakers to open frozen trade routes; the figurative use dates to the 16th century.
More idioms — Nature
- To give a wide berth — To keep well away from someone or something.
- Echar leña al fuego — To make a bad situation worse.
- Prendere lucciole per lanterne — To be completely and badly mistaken.
- Ficar a ver navios — To be left disappointed and empty-handed.
- Att kasta yxan i sjön — To give up completely.
- At save den gren over man selv sidder på — To undermine your own position.
More English idioms
- To throw a spanner in the works — To sabotage or disrupt a plan.
- A skeleton in the closet — A shameful secret kept hidden.
- To read the riot act — To reprimand someone sternly.
- To pull out all the stops — To make every possible effort.
- To have egg on your face — To look foolish or embarrassed.
- To jump on the bandwagon — To join something only once it becomes popular.
From our false friends
- Lectura — Actually means 'reading'. A lecture is una conferencia.
- Compromiso — Actually means 'commitment', 'obligation', or 'engagement'. For a negotiated compromise,…
- Gracioso — Actually means 'funny' or 'amusing'. For gracious (kind and polite), say amable.