das Eis brechen

to break the ice

Türkçe: buzları eritmek

Noun

Eis n.

Verb

brechen

Topic

Alltag und Redewendungen

In a sentence

Der Moderator bricht das Eis mit einem lustigen Spruch zu Beginn.

How it is used

Idiom meaning to overcome initial awkwardness in a social situation. Neutral register. Use at a party when telling a joke to relax the group. Common mistake: learners use it literally—it's always figurative in German too.

Other verbs that go with Eis

This is the choice the collocation turns on.

• auf Eis liegena project or plan is temporarily paused
• etw. auf Eis legento postpone or shelve a plan temporarily

All collocations with Eis

Other collocations built on brechen

• sich Bahn brechento force one's way through
• einen Eid brechento violate or break a solemn promise
• die Ehe brechento commit adultery, breaking marriage vows
• sich den Fuß brechento break one's foot
• das Gesetz brechento break the law
• jdm. das Herz brechento break someone's heart
• etw. übers Knie brechento rush/hurry something
• (sich) die Knochen brechento break her bones