ice-breaker
Mixer game activity
An ice-breaker is a ship designed to navigate through frozen waters by cutting through ice, clearing passages for other vessels.
The term extends to any activity, remark, or game intended to ease tension and encourage conversation among people meeting for the first time.
We started the workshop with an ice-breaker where everyone shared something unusual about themselves.
The social sense captures the metaphor of breaking through the cold, hard surface of initial awkwardness.
Organized play or sport
- questionRequest for information
- promptIncite to action
- exerciseActivity for fitness
- challengeTest of ability
introduction · warm-up · energizer · mixer · team-building · getting-to-know-you · pairing · grouping
Building professional relationships
- minglingCasual social interaction
- meet-and-greetScheduled public introduction
- mixerCombines ingredients or people
- receptionAct of receiving guests
socializing · gathering · welcoming · fellowship · rapport-building · orientation · hospitality · introduction
What begins something
- jokeHumorous statement seeking laughter
- anecdoteBrief account of incident
- quipBrief, clever remark
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
pleasantries · question · topic · gambit · chitchat · dialogue · exchange · rapport
game
Organized play or sport
challenge · introduction · warm-up · energizer · mixer · team-building · getting-to-know-you · pairing · grouping · sharing
networking
Building professional relationships
- minglingCasual social interaction
- meet-and-greetScheduled public introduction
- mixerCombines ingredients or people
reception · socializing · gathering · welcoming · fellowship · rapport-building · orientation · hospitality · introduction · strangers
opener
What begins something
banter · pleasantries · question · topic · gambit · chitchat · dialogue · exchange · rapport · engagement
vessel
Receptacle for contents
Antarctic · polar · navigation · channel · passage · frozen · floe · expedition · research · convoy
thaw
Return to liquid
- warmingIncreasing in temperature
- tensionStretched or strained state
- awkwardnessLack of grace or ease
barrier · breakthrough · opening · defusing · easing · relaxing · bridging · melting · softening · dissolving
ice-breakerconversation stopper
Remark ending discussion abruptly
mood killer · buzzkill · awkward silence · wet blanket · wall