Culture¡GHow Britons break the ice

[2017.02.15] µoªí
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(Photo C )

¡i©ú³ø±M°T¡jUnlike most people, Britons do not seem to be annoyed by unpredictable weather.

¡§ Dr Panda: The sun's come out. A lovely day, isn't it? ¡¨

¡§ Pat: We couldn't ask for a better day than this. ¡¨

¡§ Pat: Oh! Are we expecting constant rain? ¡¨

¡§ Dr Panda: Bit of a cold wind, probably. ¡¨

¡§ Eason: Why are they so obsessed with talking about the weather? ¡¨

¡½Culture tips

People in the UK often start a conversation by discussing the weather. It is a well-known British trait. A survey discovered that British people spend six months of their lives talking about the weather. It is believed that the unpredictable weather in the UK gives its people a chance to talk about something different every day. Weather is also considered a neutral and casual topic of conversation which helps break the ice when one meets strangers, or when one doesn't want to have a serious or meaningful conversation with someone.

(See photo C )

¡½English highway¡Rbreak the ice

It is a phrase that means making people feel more friendly and willing to talk to each other.

e.g. He tried to break the ice by sharing with me a bar of chocolate.

¡½Glossary

unpredictable (adj) Åܤ۲ö´úªº

obsessed (adj) þÓ°gªº

trait (n) ¯SÂI

neutral (adj)¤¤¥ßªº

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