idioms involving ice

Icing on the cake

Additional and especially good news

“The extra holidays over the New Year were welcomed but the double bonus was the real icing on the cake.”

Tip of the iceberg

The small visible part of a much larger problem

“The company has some major accounting problems; the inflated revenue numbers are just the tip of the iceberg.”

On ice

Frozen, stopped

“The new automobile project is on ice until the company finds additional funding for it.”

Icy reception

Unfriendly or cold greeting

“Kimura-san said the new supervisor was given an icy reception by the factory workers.”

Break the ice

To overcome the awkwardness of starting a conversation

“This book has several tips on how to break the ice at cocktail parties.”

Note: These tips are often called “icebreakers”.