Example: Um das Eis zu brechen, erzählte er einen lustigen Witz.
Definition
"Das Eis brechen" is a German idiomatic expression meaning to initiate social interaction by overcoming initial awkwardness or tension. It is often used to describe actions that help people feel comfortable and start conversations, such as telling a joke or making a friendly remark.
Translations
break the ice
romper el hielo
het ijs breken
trencar el gel
briser la glace
Etymology
The phrase "das Eis brechen" literally means "to break the ice," originally referring to the practice of ships breaking ice in waterways to allow passage. Metaphorically, it evolved to describe breaking down social barriers to enable communication. Did you know that this expression is used similarly in many languages to convey starting social interaction?
Learn to use this expression actively
"Das Eis brechen" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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break the ice