broken ice: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal for the literal sense; informal/idiomatic for the metaphorical sense.
Quick answer
What does “broken ice” mean?
A literal description of ice on a body of water that has fractured into pieces.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A literal description of ice on a body of water that has fractured into pieces.
A metaphor for a tense or awkward social situation that has been relieved; used most commonly in the idiom 'to break the ice.' The phrase itself can also refer to fragmented sea or lake ice in geographical contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Usage of the literal term is more common in regions with frozen bodies of water (e.g., Canada, Northern US, Scandinavia). The idiom 'break the ice' is universal.
Connotations
Neutral-literal for the physical description. Positive for the idiomatic outcome (e.g., 'After the joke, the broken ice allowed for a real conversation').
Frequency
The literal term has low frequency in general discourse but appears in specific contexts (news, geography, travel). The idiom is high frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “broken ice” in a Sentence
[Verb] + broken ice: The ship carved through the broken ice.[Preposition] + broken ice: They walked carefully over the broken ice.[Adjective] + broken ice: The treacherous broken ice made the crossing slow.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “broken ice” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The icebreaker will break the ice in the harbour tomorrow.
- We need to break the ice with the new clients.
American English
- The Coast Guard cutter is breaking ice on the Great Lakes.
- He told a funny story to break the ice at the meeting.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb form.
American English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- The broken-ice field extended for miles.
- They studied the broken-ice morphology.
American English
- The broken ice conditions delayed the ferry.
- Broken-ice navigation requires special skills.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The workshop game was a great ice-breaker.' The literal term is rare.
Academic
Used in geography, environmental science, and maritime studies to describe ice conditions.
Everyday
Mostly used in the idiomatic sense ('break the ice'). Literal use when discussing weather or travel in cold climates.
Technical
Used in navigation (icebreaker ships), climate science, and polar logistics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “broken ice”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “broken ice”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “broken ice”
- Using 'broken ice' to mean 'ice breaker' (a person or activity). That is 'ice-breaker'. 'Broken ice' is the result.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Broken ice' is the result (the fragmented ice or the relieved atmosphere). An 'ice breaker' (or icebreaker) is the thing or person that causes it (the ship or the social activity).
Yes, but it's more natural to say 'The ice was broken' or 'We broke the ice.' Saying 'There was broken ice' for this meaning is rare and slightly poetic.
It's specialist language. It's common in reports about shipping, polar exploration, and climate science, but not in everyday conversation unless you live in a very cold climate.
'Broken ice' describes the state (fractured). 'Pack ice' is a type of sea ice that is not attached to land and can be either consolidated or broken. All broken ice in the sea could be part of pack ice, but not all pack ice is broken.
A literal description of ice on a body of water that has fractured into pieces.
Broken ice is usually formal for the literal sense; informal/idiomatic for the metaphorical sense. in register.
Broken ice: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbrəʊ.kən ˈaɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbroʊ.kən ˈaɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “break the ice (to relieve social tension)”
- “on thin ice (in a risky situation)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a frozen lake CRACKING with a loud sound. The sound is the 'breaking,' and the result is 'broken ice.' This same 'cracking' sound is like the awkward silence cracking when someone tells a good joke to 'break the ice.'
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL TENSION IS A SOLID BARRIER / EASE OF INTERACTION IS FREE FLOW (OVER OPEN WATER).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'broken ice' in a social context?