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rompere il ghiaccio
/romˈpeːre il ˈɡjaːt.t͡ʃo/◆idiom
break the ice
Per rompere il ghiaccio, Marco ha raccontato una barzelletta.
To break the ice, Marco told a joke.
informal
To initiate conversation in a social setting to reduce tension or awkwardness.
All’inizio della riunione, il capo ha proposto un gioco per rompere il ghiaccio.
At the start of the meeting, the boss suggested a game to break the ice.
Quando ci siamo incontrati per la prima volta, lei ha rotto il ghiaccio chiedendo della nostra comune passione per la musica.
When we first met, she broke the ice by asking about our shared passion for music.
Often used in professional or social contexts where participants are unfamiliar with each other.
Collocations
rompere il ghiaccio con qualcunoto break the ice with someoneun modo per rompere il ghiaccioa way to break the ice
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Contextual Use
Use 'rompere il ghiaccio' when you want to describe actions that help people feel more comfortable in a new or awkward situation, such as starting a conversation, telling a joke, or sharing a light-hearted story.
Gold Rule
Avoid Literal Translation
Do not use 'to break the ice' when referring to physical ice-breaking (e.g., on a frozen lake). Reserve it for social or conversational contexts.
Word Origin
From the literal sense of breaking ice on a frozen surface to metaphorically easing tension in social interactions. The phrase dates back to the 17th century, originally used in contexts like navigation or travel where ice posed a physical barrier.
Usage Notes
Common in both formal and informal settings. Often used reflexively (e.g., 'Mi sono sforzato di rompere il ghiaccio').
Word Breakdown
rompere
to break
verbil ghiaccio
the ice
noun phraseDizionario Italiano-Inglese