Icebreaker 打破冷场

The script of this programme 本节目台词

Wang Fei: 大家好，欢迎收听《地道英语》节目。我是王飞。

Rob: And hello, I'm Rob.

Wang Fei: Rob, I'm going on a hot date tomorrow and I'm feeling a bit nervous. I think I need your help now.

Rob: Ok, it is a scary thing to do. What you need is some kind of icebreaker.

Wang Fei: An icebreaker? That sounds cold!

Rob: Don't worry it's not, but an icebreaker has got something to do with warming up a cold situation. It will make things more relaxed.

This ice sculptor definitely knows how to break the ice.

Wang Fei: 我明白了。An icebreaker 也就是避免冷场或者打破尴尬场合的事情或者人，目的就是活跃一下气氛，或者让大家彼此感到放松。So, an icebreaker will make things less formal then?

Rob: Yes that's right. Doing something or saying something at the start will hopefully make your date more relaxed and less tense.

Wang Fei: 嗯。An icebreaker 也就是一个打破尴尬场合的好方法，可以让气氛不那么正式，也让彼此感到不那么紧张。Maybe I should sing a song or do a dance?!

Rob: Hold on! That's a bit over the top. Why not start with a joke?

Wang Fei: 既然唱歌或者跳舞会有点儿 over the top 有些过火。Ok, I will think of a joke then.

A: Telling a joke is an excellent icebreaker.

B: That party needed an icebreaker to make it less formal!

Wang Fei: 我们刚才听到的例句中使用了 icebreaker 这个词，意思都是说让气氛变得不那么正式，不至于出现冷场、僵局。Icebreaker literally means breaking the ice?

Rob: It does. You can do it when you start a new job. Everything feels so formal that it's good to break the ice. We British can be a bit reserved or formal so it's good if someone can break the ice.

Wang Fei: 是的，有时候英国人可能会比较矜持、正式，所以最好有人来打破冷场了。 Rob I'm not good at jokes. Do you have any I can use?

Rob: Ok, well let's have a think. How about telling this one? "With my last girlfriend it was love at first sight – then I took a second look!"

Wang Fei: It's a very good joke! Honestly, did it work for you?

Rob: Well, no it didn't. But it might be good for you!

Wang Fei: Hmmm… Actually I think I would rather find a good story on our website as an icebreaker.

Rob: Yes. Don't forget our website is a good place to learn some English phrases that might help you break the ice at a party.

Wang Fei: 是的。听众朋友，请别忘了登录我们的网站收听更多的地道英语表达。Our website is …

Rob: www.bbcukchina.com. Bye bye.

Wang Fei: Bye!