TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

BREAK ICE [1 record]

Record 1 1989-12-04

English

Subject field(s)
  • Meetings and Assemblies (Administration)
  • Psychology of Communication
  • Group Dynamics
DEF

To get through the first difficulties in starting a conversation or discussion.

CONT

One effective way of breaking the ice is for each person to introduce himself, give the name of his company and say a few words about his work.

CONT

you can ask a relay- type question--one that each person in the group answers in turn. By including a timid person in this series of around-the-horn comments, you help him "break the ice".

French

Domaine(s)
  • Réunions et assemblées (Administration)
  • Psychologie de la communication
  • Dynamique des groupes
OBS

[...] "briser" [...] peut s'utiliser à bon droit dans la locution ci-dessus, sans exclure pour autant l'emploi du verbe "rompre", qui est peut-être plus usuel.

DEF

dissiper la gêne; faire cesser la contrainte dans un entretien, une entrevue, etc.

CONT

Quand la session commence [...], la plupart des participants ne se connaissent pas. [...] On sent une tension, le climat n'est pas très chaud. [...] Les techniques d'ouverture servent à casser la glace. Comme les sessions se donnent souvent en groupes de quinze à vingt personnes, il est donc possible qu'au départ tous s'expriment.

Spanish

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