| 单词 | to break the ice |
| 释义 | > as lemmasto break the ice Phrases P1. In similative phrases, as (as) cold (also cool, etc.) as ice. ΚΠ c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 515 (MED) Y wex cold as ise [c1475 Caius colder than the yys]. 1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde ii. xxi. sig. h3v In the same place sourde and sprynge other [fountains] that ben as colde as yce. 1580 A. Saker Narbonus ii. 51 Her loue so hot as fire, is now so colde as Yce. 1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. i. 137 Be thou as chaste as yce, as pure as snowe, Thou shalt not scape calumny. 1674 C. Cotton tr. B. de Montluc Commentaries iv. 209 My people had made a Cellar in the earth, where the wine and the water was as cool as ice. 1707 G. Farquhar Beaux Stratagem ii. 12 His Feet cold as Ice, his Breath hot as a Furnace. 1790 W. Beckford Descr. Acct. Jamaica I. 233 The waters..are as pellucid as crystal, and as cool as ice. 1838 J. H. St. Aubyn Elopement II. viii. 72 Lord Stormont was..quite an Englishman,—quiet, stately, and cold as ice. 1845 W. G. Simms Wigwam & Cabin 1st Ser. 107 My heart as cold as ice, and jumping up and down as scarily as a rabbit's. 1911 ‘H. Payson’ Boy Scouts on Range i. 16 They rose from the table, but Rob, still inwardly raging but outwardly cool as ice, stopped them. 1976 M. H. Kingston Woman Warrior 193 I heard one line sung out into the night air in a woman's voice high and clear as ice. 1988 E. Blyton Mountain of Adventure (rev. ed.) vii. 48 A spring gushed out beside the small wooded patch, as cold as ice. 2012 F. Ray With just One Kiss xvii. 249 Cicely's smile was as cold as ice. P2. to break the ice [after post-classical Latin scindere glaciem (1528 in Erasmus)] . a. To make a beginning in an undertaking or enterprise, esp. in the face of difficulty or resistance (cf. to break ground and icebreaker n.); to prepare the way for others (cf. quot. 1590); (also in literal contexts) to break the frozen surface of a river, lake, etc., in order to make a passage for boats, etc. (also with vessel as subject). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > beginning action or activity > begin action or activity [verb (intransitive)] > make a beginning in some enterprise beginc1200 to break the ice?1553 to break (the) ground1709 to set (or start) the ball rolling1770 to strike the first blow1849 ?1553–77 Life Fisher (Harl. 6382) (1921) 40 This reuerend father..chaunced..to be one of the first that brake the yse, and [showed]..the inconvenience that followed [the divorce of Henry VIII from Catherine of Aragon]. 1590 H. Swinburne Briefe Treat. Test. & Willes Epil. The authour therefore in aduenturing to breake the yse to make the passage easie for his countrymen, failing sometimes of the fourd, and falling into the pit, may seeme worthie to be pitied. 1602 T. Heywood How Man may chuse Good Wife sig. B It is my dutie to begin I know, And I will breake this Ice of curtesie. You are welcome home sir. 1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. ii. 122 The Oratour..At last broke silence, and the Ice. 1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 7. ⁋6 The Ice being broke, the Sound is again open for the Ships. 1794 R. B. Sheridan Duenna (new ed.) ii. 34 So! the ice is broke, and a..civil beginning too! 1871 A. Trollope Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite xvii. 227 She thought that she had broken the ice, and that her father would by degrees become accustomed to her plan. 1874 J. W. Long Amer. Wild-fowl Shooting xii. 174 The boat should then be ‘rocked’ continually to break the ice as it goes. 1932 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ Sunset Song iii. 174 The hens broke the ice, you might say, for they got themselves loose from the gig of the Netherhill folk and started a wild flutter and chirawk everywhere, anywhere out of Blawearie. 1980 BBC Summary of World Broadcasts (Nexis) 24 Jan. Specially equipped boats are breaking the ice. 1993 Echoes 25 Dec. 20/2 Another new label breaking the ice this week is Weekend Records who impress with..the spunky..lunacy of Protect and Survive. b. To break through cold reserve or stiffness, esp. facilitating conversation or social ease. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > social intercourse or companionship > be sociable [verb (intransitive)] > throw off coldness or reserve > break through reserve or stiffness to break the ice1795 1795 S. J. Pratt Gleanings through Wales II. l. 458 Notwithstanding..,there is an air of distance, reserve, and even coldness, they are all.., replete with an anxious desire to break the ice. 1823 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XIII xxxviii. 74 And your cold people are beyond all price, When once you have broken their confounded ice. 1893 Earl of Dunmore Pamirs I. 226 The ice being thus broken, Ching Dolai put aside the reserve habitual to all Celestials. 1936 M. R. Anand Coolie ii. 54 He was mightily pleased with himself that he had broken the ice, although he could not muster the courage to say anything more and ask him to tea. 1979 M. Leigh Abigail's Party i, in Abigail's Party & Goose-pimples (1983) 13 Angela : That'd be really nice, 'cos I want to meet the neighbours. Beverly : Yeah, just say hello, Ang, and break the ice. 2001 Brisbane News 14 Nov. 7/2 The ice broken relatively quickly, we get down to some serious business—ordering lunch. P3. on ice. a. (a) placed on top of ice or in a container filled with ice to keep cold; chiefly in to put (also serve, keep, etc.) on ice: to chill or cool (food or a bottle of wine, beer, etc.) by placing on top of ice, or in a container filled with ice; cf. sense 2c. ΚΠ 1818 L. E. Ude Fr. Cook (ed. 5) 333 Jellies..must be worked cold, and be put on ice very promptly. 1892 Cosmopolitan July 298/1 Champagne is frequently on the doctor's prescription.., though served neither on ice nor by the small bottle. 1940 Railroad Mag. Apr. 27/2 She bought the best porterhouse steak she could find and put it on ice. 1984 Sears, Roebuck Catal. Spring–Summer 376 Moonlight and roses, champagne on ice. 2009 A. D. Livingston Freshwater Fish Cookbk. 167/1 If the fish are kept on ice, the gutting can wait for a day or two. (b) Originally U.S. Of a drink: served with ice. ΚΠ 1881 N.Y. Times 22 Mar. 5/5 (advt.) Nothing can compare with Hub Punch on ice. 1905 Ice & Refrigeration July 44/2 The plant was inspected by some twenty members of the Coal Exchange.., who were served by Mr. Doe with punch on ice. 1956 San Antonio (Texas) Express & News 5 Feb. (For You & Family section) 2 e/5 A highball..will fill up the drinker more quickly than a potent but short drink of whisky on ice. 1983 I. Goodman Heart Failure 28 Then surprise me. Vodka on ice with something bright stirred in. 2005 T. Janzen Crazy Cool xix. 282 At the bar, he got her an orange juice on ice and sat her down in a quiet corner. b. hog on ice: see hog n.1 Phrases 6. c. U.S. slang (now historical). a big thing on ice: a good thing (also on ice). ΚΠ 1861 N.Y. Herald 24 Jan. 8/6 The Greatest Skating Excitement of the Season... At night the cry was not ‘Great is Diana’, but ‘Big thing on ice is calciums’. A calcium light was placed at each end of the upper pond. 1862 Tony Pastor's Comic & Eccentric Songster 20 A Big Thing on Ice. Comic Song. Written and Sung by Tony Pastor. Air—‘Bow-wow-wow’. 1890 A. C. Gunter Miss Nobody xx. 231 In the hall, prominently posted up by a wag, under new memberships, is a notice: For Election. Gussie de P. Van Beekman, vice Baron Bassington, of Harrowby Castle, England. On ice! 1979 J. T. Dunn St. Croix xviii. 225 Pilot Jack Kent felt that the boat was a ‘big thing on ice’. d. Originally U.S. Of an entertainment, ice show, etc.: performed by ice-skaters. ΚΠ 1865 N.Y. Times 18 Jan. 7/4 The Grand Carnival on ice, which was postponed yesterday on account of the storm, will take place this afternoon and evening. 1938 Star-Jrnl. (Sandusky, Ohio) 11 Jan. 2/8 (advt.) A glamorous musical comedy on ice. 2012 C. Rax in Reckless 71 She excitedly claps her hands while watching several skaters practice some moves from The Nutcracker on Ice. e. colloquial (originally U.S.). Postponed, deferred; held in reserve; chiefly in to put (also keep, leave, etc.) (a person or thing) on ice: to hold in reserve; to postpone for attention at a later date, defer; now rarely to put on the ice. ΚΠ 1875 W. Scanlon Since Terry first joined Gang! (sheet music) 1/1 Old man, you're getting too fresh, And we'll soon have to put you on the ice. 1890 A. C. Gunter Miss Nobody xx. 231 For Election. Gussie de P. Van Beekman... On ice! 1894 P. L. Ford Hon. Peter Stirling 328 They say she's never been able to find a man good enough for her, and so she's keeping herself on ice. 1916 J. Buchan Greenmantle ix. 117 Because the German mercantile marine was laid on ice till the end of the war, they had turned him on to this show. 1932 Amer. Speech 7 335 Put it on the ice, ‘forget it’. 1933 D. L. Sayers Murder must Advertise xix. 322 Their idea is to put you on ice quietly till they've had time to settle up their affairs. 1957 A. Grimble Return to Islands 75 The problem that his resignation had left on ice, for whomever it might concern. 1965 New Statesman 14 May 771/2 Presumably the book, finished in 1957, was put on ice, for Mr Wood can hardly have hoped to get away in Beaverbrook's lifetime with much of the discussion of his ‘brash brutality’. 1991 S. Kendrick in Comfort & Joy (1997) 340 ‘It's on Wednesday.’‘Keep those kisses on ice until then?’ 2009 Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg) 11 June 27/3 The RTA smelter, while on ice, will go ahead..when its new stations..come on line. f. colloquial (chiefly U.S.). Certain to be achieved or won; chiefly in to put (something, esp. a contest) on ice: to ensure a successful outcome. ΚΠ 1910 N.Y. Evening Jrnl. 1 Apr. 19 A timely tap would have put the game on ice. 1936 E. S. Gardner Case of Sleepwalker's Niece xiv. 131 I figured that and the record of the telephone call would be enough to put the case on ice. 1944 W. S. Maugham Razor's Edge vii. 276 I haven't signed on the dotted line yet, but it's on ice. The fella I'm going in with was a roommate of mine at college..and I'm dead sure he wouldn't hand me a lemon. 1974 Boys' Life Sept. 69/1 His score made it 17-6 and put the game on ice. ‘I knew you could do it,’ yelped Pete James when it was over. 1991 Sports Illustr. 3 June 35/2 That put the game on ice. 2006 K. A. Hoeffner All You've Got xxi. 244 On the third match point attempt, Rada served an ace to put the game on ice. g. slang (chiefly U.S.). Held in custody or detention; in prison; chiefly in to put on ice and variants: to hold in custody or detention; to place in prison (also spec. in an isolation unit). ΘΚΠ society > authority > punishment > imprisonment > [adverb] > in prison in1574 in (occasionally the) hock1859 on ice1931 upstate1934 1931 Sat. Rev. Lit. (U.S.) 18 July 978/2 Among the words and phrases common among racketeers, not yet in general use..there are the following:..on ice, in the penitentiary. 1953 W. S. Burroughs Junkie x. 103 ‘I sent for the wagon,’ said the guy with the pipe. ‘We'll take them over to the third precinct and put them on ice.’ 1973 ‘I. Drummond’ Jaws of Watchdog xii. 154 Scotland Yard could not keep him on ice that long. He would have to be brought to a court to be charged. 1997 M. Groening et al. Simpsons: Compl. Guide 115/2 Homer. Apu, I'd like you to drop the charges against my wife. Apu. No offense, Mr. Homer, but we're putting that bitch on ice! 2011 E. Dezenhall Devil Himself 55 Meyer got no joy seeing Luciano go to jail... On the one hand, if they put Luciano on ice, then they might start going after some of his partners next. P4. colloquial (originally U.S.). on thin ice: in a precarious or risky situation. Cf. sense 2b. ΚΠ 1871 Dartmouth June 231 But dodging this point by the word possibility, he finds himself on thin ice and skates fast to the conclusion. 1920 Pacific Printer June 322/1 The printer who uses slang in talking in type to his prospects is on thin ice. 1962 J. G. Bennett Witness xxii. 287 Thus, without knowing it, I was treading on very thin ice. 2000 M. Barrowcliffe Girlfriend 44 iii. 78 ‘You said the police have found a body.’ I didn't answer his first question... I knew I was on thin ice here. P5. colloquial (originally U.S.). to cut ice (with someone) and variants: to carry weight, have an influence or effect (upon); to impress. Chiefly in negative or other non-assertive contexts. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] rineOE takec1300 concern1446 redound1460 work1487 touch1491 solicit1601 salutea1616 enact1616 affect1630 reach1637 attinge1640 act1655 influence1661 irradiate1668 vibrate1845 involve1847 inwork1855 to cut ice (with someone)1894 dent1931 impact1935 to make (also put) a dent in1942 the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > effect produced on emotions > be affected by impression [verb (intransitive)] > have effect to pierce one's stomach1509 reverberate1608 impose1625 bite1638 to strike home1694 to cut ice (with someone)1894 register1913 project1933 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > be of no avail [verb (intransitive)] to stand for something (or nothing)OE frustrate1471 unavail1866 to cut ice1894 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > be of no avail to [verb (transitive)] > have no effect upon to be lost on or upona1616 to cut ice1894 1894 J. A. Frye Fables Field & Staff 176 ‘Huh! w'at youse say cuts no ice wid me!’ says I, scornful. ‘It's clean nutty dat youse are.’ 1896 Amer. Stationer 7 May 794/1 If special features and big crowds ‘cut any ice’, some should be cut this month, for the spring races begin on May 6 and will last two weeks. 1904 Albany (N.Y.) Weekly Times 30 June 4 The czar is to send an ice-breaking boat to the Far East, realizing apparently that his forces haven't been cutting much ice over that way. 1917 A. Conan Doyle His Last Bow 291 It cuts no ice with a British copper to tell him you're an American citizen. 1924 A. Huxley Let. 28 Oct. (1969) 235 I was very glad..to hear that you liked Those Barren Leaves. It cuts more ice, I think, than the others and is more explicit and to the point. 1930 G. B. Shaw Apple Cart i. 7 Oh, sit down, man, sit down. Youre in your own house: ceremony cuts no ice with me. 1955 Times 12 May 14/5 Burns..ended a bitter argument by declaring: ‘That cuts no ice with me. I want the referee to hold the money.’ 1983 T. Heald Networks iii. 52 It cuts more ice to say that you were at Eton than at Shrewsbury. 1983 P. Dallas Ital. Wines (new ed.) ii. 30 This, fortunately, cuts little ice with the Italians. 1994 Sunday Times 6 Mar. iv. 7/2 However, only time will tell whether a personal plea from Major will cut much ice. 1996 A. Templeton Past praying For (1997) xv. 292 They had evidence that Hayley had quarrelled with McEvoy last night, and Hayley's airy explanation that it was just a little misunderstanding between friends hadn't cut any ice. P6. straight off the ice: (of speech, demeanour, etc.) cold and sharp, lacking warmth or sympathy. Now rare. ΚΠ 1922 A. S. M. Hutchinson This Freedom iii. vi. 247 I started cross-examining today. I gave him three and a half hours of it, straight off the ice, and I'm not through with him yet. 1939 K. John Prince Imperial x. 210 She passed him on to the War Office. Here also he got a welcome straight off the ice. ‘I can't imagine,’ said Palikao, ‘why the Emperor sent you.’ 1951 ‘P. Wentworth’ Ivory Dagger viii. 41 No vulgar brawling—that wasn't her line. Just a voice and manner straight off the ice and straight to the point. < as lemmas |
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