90 phrases and questions to break the ice

There are numerous strange, awkward, or even disconcerting situations that require a way to engage in conversation. Phrases to break the ice, as they are commonly known, are in charge of undoing that knot that has been made in our throat or our lifeguard in case of having screwed up.

Some scenarios in which these phrases are useful can be that event where you are introduced to a whole group of new friends, friends of friends, when you are in front of that girl with whom they want to set you up or when you meet informally with a possible partner.

• Related article: "50 questions to get to know a person better"

Breaking the ice, an art

As if it were a seventh art, knowing how to break the ice is not a beginner's task. In fact, any expression that we sing can determine the course of the conversation and the tone of it. It can ruin the plan or be an absolute success.

Let's imagine that situation of wanting to get closer to a boy or girl that we like, being a totally unknown person, and that after reciprocal and accepted eye contact, we seriously consider stepping forward and engaging conversation.

What should we say?

The most ingenious phrases to break the ice

Below you can find the most appropriate and varied phrases to break the ice depending on the situation in which you find yourself.

1. Did you know that depending on the color of the lobe of the chickens, the eggs will come out of one color or another?

This phrase is used for any situation where there is a conglomerate of people. No specific goal is sought, just get attention andFor example, introduce a story.

2. I'm sure you like pineapple pizza… am I wrong?

This phrase is often used to flirt or to create a very relaxed tone of conversation.

3. Twice as many staff toilets were built in the pentagon as it fits in the building, do you know why?

It's a puzzling statement that we can use in any kind of situation.

4. Ostriches do not bury their heads under the ground. They simply lower their heads to the ground to put their ears

A fact that escapes many and that can lead to a good conversation.

5. The famous Big Mac is composed of more than 70 ingredients

Imagine that you are at McDonald's with a colleague that you have just met and there has not been a chance to talk. It's a good start.

6. The Bible is the most downloaded book on digital reading tablets

It is a good start to attract the attention of someone fond of reading. We can use it on the bus, in the subway, in the library.

7. 60 percent of Britons believe that Sherlock Holmes is a real character, compared to 20 percent who believe that Winston Churchill is fictional

It is a phrase that we can use with some movie buff or series-addict.

• Related article: "Psychological series: 20 TV series that every psychologist should watch"

8. Pigs cannot lie on their backs. It is physically impossible

Is a fun phrase to break the ice. Making people laugh is a good symptom.

9. The left lung is smaller. This is to leave room for the heart

Imagine you're waiting at the doctor's office with someone you don't know. It is a good phrase to end the silence.

10. At birth we do it with 300 bones that, as we grow, end up being 200

It is a good argument to start a conversation with someone knowledgeable.

11. Did you know that dynamite needs peanuts for its manufacture?

References to trivia are helpful.

12. Mosquitoes especially bite people who eat bananas

This phrase can be used, for example, on excursions and long tours of natural spaces.

13. The average man sees 5 women a day with whom he would like to have sex

Be careful who we use this phrase with!

14. Pupils dilate as much when you hate someone as when you like them

We get in a situation of wanting to flirt with someone. It is a way to attract attention by not resorting to a typical phrase to please. Phrases like this always surprise the receiver.

15. The human being is unable to taste food if it does not have saliva

Above all, we must use this phrase when we are in front of a diner and we do not know the members of the table.

16. Cat or dog?

It is of no more importance than breaking the ice in a situation of stagnant conversation.

17. You have a very pretty face, it would look better framed on my wall

It is a way to attract attention when flirting on the Internet or applications like WhatsApp.

18. It's a life and death question: dark or mixed chocolate nutella?

We are looking at the profile on a social network of a person we like, and we know that he loves chocolate. Breaking the ice with this phrase is a good way to create a funny situation.

19. Where did you grow up?

Good way to know a little more about that person we want to meet.

20. Have pets?

Animals are almost always a good topic of conversation.

21. Do you have brothers?

A question to be able to extend a conversation about somewhat personal aspects.

22. Have you realized what your name means?

Some exotic names are unknown to the bearer.

23. What cell phone brand do you have?

Simple question but nowadays it is a topic of conversation.

24. What did you do this last weekend?

A good way to start a dialogue.

25. What are your plans for next weekend?

Along the lines of the latter, you can ask this question and see if you have similar tastes.

26. What do you like to do in your free time?

Not all of us use free time in the same way, and that says things about who we are.

27. The first thing you do when you wake up, what is it?

It enters into people's habits, and it is an interesting topic.

28. What is the last thing you do before going to sleep?

Another phrase to break the ice that gives a lot to talk about.

29. What is your second name?

Some compound names can have a good story to tell.

30. What is the last thing you bought?

Whether it is material or immaterial, it is a good debate for two.

31. What is your ideal vacation like?

Surely a topic that can give hours and hours of conversation, while being interesting.

32. Your favorite day of the week?

Simple and fun question.

33. If you had to meet a historical figure, who would it be?

Another resource that goes off topic when starting a conversation.

34. What do you do to relax?

Everyone has different methods to relax and forget stress.

• You may be interested in: "6 easy relaxation techniques to combat stress"

35. What was your favorite childhood book?

An interesting option is to ask questions about childhood.

36. What is the first thing you remember from your childhood?

We often have recorded memories that can be a good topic of conversation.

37. What kind of child were you?

Sometimes, over time, our personality can change radically.

38. What do you miss about being a child?

It is a recurring question that we all ask ourselves at some point.

39. When you were little, what did you say you would like to be?

Most of the time we dream of being something that we are not when we have grown older.

40. Saver or spender?

For some this point is important.

41. Do you play any instrument?

For many it is exciting that someone plays a musical instrument.

42. What is the first thing you notice about a guy?

It's a good question and one that can be fun. Sometimes It's amazing what you can hear.

43. Have you ever fallen in love?

They say you have to fall in love 7 times to know true love.

44. Do you believe in soul mates?

Sometimes we insist on looking for our other half. It can be a good topic of conversation.

• Related article: "Platonic love: a guide to love in modern times"

45. What is your way of disconnecting?

Breaking the ice in this way is very original, avoiding recurring questions.

46. Do you believe in love at first sight?

A complicated but exciting question.

47. Do you prefer short or long hair?

For some it is a very important detail when looking at the physique of the other.

48. What are you looking for in a guy?

This sentence is a good base to start a deeper and more direct conversation.

49. Who did you call last time?

It's a rare question and that also gives a lot of itself. Highly recommended.

50. Would you rather be rich without finding your love, or be poor and have that love?

The million dollar question. For many individuals materialism is always in the background.

51. Are you more of dogs or cats?

A classic to know the preference in terms of pets.

52. Which Disney movie is your favourite?

We all remember an animated movie with special affection: The Lion King, Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin...

53. What is your favorite refreshing drink?

Coca-Cola, Sprite, Nestea, Fanta... or even some healthier ones such as fruit juices may be in the repertoire of possible answers.

54. Do you prefer cold or heat?

It is interesting to understand why a person prefers one sensation or another.

55. How did you meet your partner?

Romantic anecdotes always give a lot of play.

56. Marvel or DC?

A debate that can lead to real discussions between lovers of superheroes.

57. What is your zodiac sign?

A topic that can be very important to some people.

58. Are you more of day or night?

The eternal debate between day people and night people.

59. What three objects would you take to a deserted island?

A classic question with which we can get to know the other person better.

60. What is your favorite song?

We all have a special song that will stay with us forever.

61. What is your favorite movie?

An interesting question that can spark a lively movie debate.

62. Do you prefer the sea or the mountains?

A question with which we can express our vacation preferences.

63. If you could travel in time where would you go?

Some answers to this question can be truly imaginative.

64. What is your favorite season of the year?

Some people prefer the cold seasons, others the hot ones… Nothing is written in a matter of taste.

65. Who is your favourite superhero?

A question that can also generate an interesting debate about the world of comics and superheroes.

66. What would be your ideal date?

Some people would be very clear about the answer to this question.

67. The 100 Years War lasted 116 years.

A historical fact that we can use to break the ice.

68. What is your favorite Studio Ghibli movie?

There are many films that this Japanese animation studio has bequeathed to us.

69. Bird bones are hollow.

A little-known fact that will surely surprise more than one.

70. The ancient Romans, when they had to tell the truth in court, instead of swearing on the Bible as they do today, did so by squeezing their testicles with their right hand.

That's where the word "testify" comes from.

71. Small fish are not bored in fish tanks because their memory only lasts two minutes and it is as if they were reborn

A curiosity that can be of great interest about the nature of fish.

72. Seahorses choose a mate for their entire lives… when the mate dies they stay alone for a while and die too!

A truly beautiful image about this creature of the marine world.

73. A person will die faster from not sleeping than from not eating, man can only last 10 days without sleep, and can go several weeks without eating

We better sleep well every night.

74. A koala can live its entire life without drinking water.

A truly unusual event.

75. Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.

A curiosity that can generate all kinds of humorous conversations.

76. The Vatican has enough money to end world poverty twice over.

A truly remarkable fact, on which we can reflect.

77. If you put a Diet Coke in a container with water, it floats. If you do it with a normal Coca-Cola, it sinks

Some physical phenomena are truly amazing.

78. The most powerful muscle in the human body is the tongue.

An anatomical curiosity to liven up any social context.

79. How many children would you like to have?

This question can tell us a lot about our interlocutor.

80. What team are you?

Some sports fans cultivate a true passion for their team throughout their lives.

81. What was your best trip?

A topic that can give us interesting anecdotes of all kinds.

82. If you could travel to any country, where would you go?

A question that invites us to dream.

83. What is your favorite show?

With this question we can discover new series that we were unaware of.

84. Which is your favorite dessert?

Some people enjoy eating a good dessert more than anything.

85. Where were you born?

A biographical question that may be interesting.

86. What was your favorite series in your childhood?

As children we have always had a favorite series.

87. What is your favorite movie director?

Some moviegoers will be able to answer this question rigorously and carefully.

88. What is your favorite singer?

Appropriate question to know the musical tastes of any person.

89. Who is your favorite actor?

Both actors and actresses tend to raise many passions.

90. Cervantes and Shakespeare died on the same day.

A very interesting literary curiosity.